Medvedev Fined at the US Open
In a dramatic turn of events at the US Open, Daniil Medvedev has faced a hefty sanction, being fined $42,500 following his fiery first-round exit from the tournament. This fine considerably exceeds one-third of the $110,000 prize money he was set to earn for participating. The penalties were imposed by tournament referee Jake Garner, who issued a $30,000 fine for unsportsmanlike behavior and an additional $12,500 due to racket abuse after Medvedev reacted violently post-match.
Incident During the Match
The incident unfolded during a tense game against Benjamin Bonzi, during which a photographer inadvertently wandered onto the court, causing a disruption. At that moment, Bonzi was leading 5-4 in the third set when the photographer’s presence interrupted play just after he committed a fault. The chair umpire, Greg Allensworth, instructed the photographer to exit and consequently allowed Bonzi to retake his first serve. This decision enraged Medvedev, who took issue with the umpire’s ruling and loudly expressed his frustrations to the crowd, stirring the spectators to chant, “Second serve!”
The disruption lasted over six minutes, with Medvedev engaging the audience and verbally attacking Allensworth, proclaiming,
“He wants to go home, guys. He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
Match Outcome
Despite the upheaval, Medvedev managed to rally and claim the third set and even the fourth. However, Bonzi ultimately triumphed with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4.
Future Implications
This latest defeat marks Medvedev’s third consecutive first-round elimination at a Grand Slam event, following his disappointing performance at Wimbledon last month against the same opponent, Bonzi. The 2021 US Open champion will surely need to reassess his approach both on and off the court if he wishes to return to winning form.
