Chaos erupted at the US Open on Sunday when a photographer disrupted Daniil Medvedev's first-round match, walking onto the court during a crucial match point. The disruption sparked a fiery outburst from Medvedev, who ultimately lost to French player Benjamin Bonzi with a final score of 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4.
The incident occurred as Bonzi, serving for the match, prepared for his second serve. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth's decision to restart the point with a first serve after the photographer's interference infuriated Medvedev. The Russian aggressively confronted the umpire, shouting, "Are you a man? Why are you shaking?" and sarcastically remarking, "He wants to go home... He gets paid by the match, not by the hour."
Medvedev repeatedly shouted, "What did Reilly Opelka say?" at the official, referencing an earlier incident where the American player had called for Allensworth to be suspended.
The match was paused for six minutes amid boos and whistles from the crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium. The USTA later confirmed the photographer was escorted from the court and had their credentials revoked.
Despite the chaos, Medvedev initially seemed to benefit. He saved the match point, broke Bonzi's serve to level the set, and went on to win the tiebreak, forcing a fourth set. Medvedev then dominated the fourth set, evening the match as a rattled Bonzi took a medical timeout.
The crowd's hostility continued throughout the remainder of the match, with some fans jeering Bonzi during his serves. In a tense final set, the two players exchanged breaks of serve before Bonzi sealed the victory with a backhand winner. A frustrated Medvedev responded by smashing his racket.
"It was crazy," said Bonzi, who has now defeated Medvedev in all three of their Grand Slam encounters. " "I may have gained some new fans, but I also lost some."
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