NEW YORK — Former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev has been slapped with $42,500 in fines for unsportsmanlike conduct and racket abuse after an outburst during his first-round loss to France’s Benjamin Bonzi.
The penalties — $30,000 for unsportsmanlike behaviour and $12,500 for smashing his racket against his sideline chair — amount to more than a third of the $110,000 prize money he earned at the tournament.
The drama unfolded Sunday night at Louis Armstrong Stadium when a credentialed photographer wandered along the court just after Bonzi faulted on serve while leading 5-4 in the third set. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth ruled the interruption warranted a replayed first serve, infuriating Medvedev.
The Russian star stormed toward the umpire, shouting into the court microphones and whipping the crowd into a chorus of boos and chants of “Second serve!” Play was suspended for more than six minutes before resuming, with Medvedev sarcastically telling the fans, “He wants to go home, guys. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
Despite the chaos, Medvedev rallied to win the third and fourth sets but eventually fell 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4. The defeat marked his third consecutive first-round exit at a Grand Slam, following early losses at Wimbledon and the French Open.
The photographer’s credential was revoked after the incident, but for Medvedev, the price of protest was steep — both financially and reputationally.