Medvedev’s Match-Point Meltdown sparks chaotic scenes at US Open

The US Open descended on Sunday in Chaos when a photographer came to the field when Daniil Medvedev stood opposite the body with a match point, brought the first round match to a halt and caused a spectacular collapse of the Russian.

Medvedev, the champion of 2021, was finally eliminated 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4 by Benjamin Bonzi in France, who threatened to walk off the field at a certain moment and called on the Russian to be disqualified.

Bonzi served before the game on 6-3, 7-5, 5-4 and prepared to play his second serve when the photographer went to the court surface. The disruption led the chair referee, Greg Allesworth, to restore Bonzi to his first serve, which caused an amazing eruption of Medvedev.

‘Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you vibrating? ” The Russian shouted when he stormed to the chair. “He wants to go home, boys, he doesn’t like it here. He is paid for by the game, not by the hour.”

The game was stopped for about six minutes when Jeers, whistles and angry around Louis Armstrong called Stadium, where fans refused to stand still so that Bonzi could serve.

The American tennis club said that the photographer was accompanied by the security of the court and that his references had been withdrawn.

The chaos almost proved the rescue of Medvedev. After wandering the match point, he broke to deliver the set to 5-5 before he turned the tie-break to force a fourth set. Medvedev looked a completely different player in the fourth set when he took a bagel to level the game when his rattel opponent took a medical time out for what seemed to be a knee problem. Angry of the crowd went on for the rest of the competition, with some fans focusing on Bonzi during his service motion.

The last set was much more a competition, because the game came to a nail biting finish. Encouraged by screaming of “courage!” And “Come up! “From his box, Bonzi sealed the victory with a glorious backhand, in which Medvedev returned to his chair and broke his racket.

“It was crazy. I may have some new fans, but also some new non-fans,” said Bonzi, the world no. 51. “The energy was crazy. Thanks to everyone who fascinated. Thanks for the energy.”

Medvedev will be the first former champion to leave this year’s tournament, leaving Flushing Meadows after a terrible year at the Majors where he managed to go to the second round only once.

“I was not angry with the photographer,” Medvedev said a press conference. “I was angry about the decision. Every time there is a sound of the stands between Serves, there is never a second service. But the referee gave him a first ministry. That made me angry.”

While angry from the audience from the night, Medvedev hugged the chaos and fans gathered in a frenzy in a scene that he later described as “nice to witness”.

“I thought I was losing the game,” said Medvedev. “I didn’t broken him once. So I said, ok, it is second serving, but they gave him a first. I became emotional. To be honest, while I live it, I had something like what, it could be nice to end my career with one match at the US Open.

“I love New York. They did the work. I did nothing. The crowd pushed me to come back to the game.”

Bonzi said he felt that Medvedev’s behavior was exceeded by the border. “Daniil started it and he put oil on the fire. He went crazy with the crowd. He went with them. To be honest I never saw that,” he said. “The rule is the rule. The man went between two services on the field. It is not my call to say the first Serve. I felt that I did nothing in the competition to receive this treatment, and I didn’t want to serve in those circumstances.”