Former champion Daniil Medvedev faces the risk of a major fine after an emotional match point episode that sent the US Open crowd into a frenzy and delayed his painful five-set defeat to Benjamin Bonzi.
The angry Russian tennis player expressed outrage when, with the score 5-4 in the third set, a cameraman appeared on the court between the first and second serves of his opponent, causing a pause. Umpire Greg Allensworth considered this grounds for a repeat of Bonzi's first serve.
Medvedev immediately went to Allensworth to protest the decision, provoking a reaction from the crowd by shouting, “Are you a man or not? What are you shaking about? He wants to go home, people, he doesn't like it here. He's paid for the game, not for the time.”
Despite returning to the baseline, the athlete continued to stir up the crowd's emotions, and it took more than six minutes before Bonzi was able to complete his game serve.
Although Medvedev won the point, took the set and the next to get back into the game, Bonzi repeated his Wimbledon success against the Russian, who had his third straight first-round exit at a Grand Slam.
After a 6-3 7-5 6-7 (5) 0-6 6-4 defeat in the early hours of the morning, the tennis player put the blame on the spectators: “What I say and do is in my mind aimed at making the situation worse, but I hold back because of the rules and the fact that we are on court.”
“I just expressed my feelings, my disagreement with the decision, and the crowd joined in without me calling. It was funny to watch.”
The 29-year-old also repeatedly shouted: “What did Reilly Opelka say?” – referring to an incident in which the American player called Allensworth the worst referee on tour following a dispute earlier in the season.
Medvedev declined to comment in detail on the situation with the referee: “I am facing a large fine. If I start talking, there will be big trouble, so I will remain silent.”
“Not everyone understood what I said about Reilly. He got a serious punishment then, and now I will have to too.”
Bonzi criticized his opponent's behavior: “Daniel provoked and ignited the conflict. He was losing control because of the crowd. Honestly, I have never seen anything like this before.”
It seemed that the incident would help the Russian avoid an unexpected loss, but in the decisive set Bonzi proved more resilient. Medvedev, however, sat with a gloomy expression at the end of the match, periodically smashing his racket.
The world No. 51 said: “I'm proud of myself, the development of my game, the match point in the third set. Daniil played great in the fourth, using all the opportunities.”
“In the fifth, I was giving up physically. I was trying to give it my all. I saw that he was tired, too. This match is crazy. For me, this is the greatest victory. To do this here is something special.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
