Daniil Medvedev was hit with a massive fine for a fiery clash with the chair umpire during his US Open first-round setback.
According to Express, the Russian tennis player faces a fine due to a clash with American official Greg Allensworth for allowing his opponent Benjamin Bonzi to replay his first serve after a photographer walked onto the court during his serve.
After the photographer’s invasion, the 2021 US Open champion argued with the chair umpire and got booed by the crowd.
He even halted the game for six minutes in his shocking display of bad sportsmanship. However, when the play resumed with Bonzi serving at 6-3, 7-5, and 5-4 and having the advantage, the Frenchman, whom Reilly Opelka earlier this year called “the worst ref on the ATP” and “real bad, very tense and frantic,” missed his first serve to big cheers from the crowd.
Medvedev then broke Bonzi's serve and won the third set in a tiebreak. He also thanks the crowd by making a heart sign with his hands. But eventually lost the fifth set and hopes to win a Grand Slam in New York again by 6-4.
Bonzi, after winning the match, said, “It’s kind of crazy, this match. For me, it’s like my best victory ever. I mean, the rule is the rule. The guy went on the court between two serves. I mean, it’s not my call to say first serve. And I think, yes, Daniil started it, and he put oil on the fire.”
Meanwhile, Medvedev explained, “I was not upset with the photographer. I was upset with the decision. The delay from the photographer was probably four and a half seconds. I’m not sure it’s enough for a (first) serve.”
Bonzi will now face American tennis player Marcos Giron in the second round on Tuesday, August 26.
