New York
Reuters
—
The US Open descended into chaos on Sunday when a photographer got here onto the courtroom as Daniil Medvedev confronted match level, bringing the first-round match to a standstill and sparking a spectacular meltdown from the Russian.
Former champion Medvedev was finally knocked out 6-3 7-5 6-7(5) 0-6 6-4 by Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who threatened to stroll off the courtroom at one level and known as for the Russian to be disqualified.
Serving for the match at 6-3 7-5 5-4, Bonzi was getting ready to play his second serve when the photographer stepped onto the courtroom floor.
The disruption led chair umpire Greg Allensworth to place Bonzi again onto his first serve, sparking an astonishing outburst from Medvedev.
“Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking?” the Russian shouted as he stormed in direction of the chair.
“He wants to go home, guys, he doesn’t like it here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
Medvedev additionally repeatedly shouted, “What did Reilly Opelka say?” on the official in reference to the US participant’s name for Allensworth to be suspended after receiving a code violation on the Dallas Open for confronting a spectator.
The match was halted for about six minutes as jeers, whistles and boos rang out round Louis Armstrong Stadium, with followers refusing to remain quiet so Bonzi may serve.
The USTA mentioned the photographer was escorted from the courtroom by US Open safety and that his credentials had been revoked.
The chaos nearly proved Medvedev’s salvation.
After warding off the match level he broke to degree the set at 5-5 earlier than edging the tiebreak to drive a fourth set.
The 2021 champion regarded a very completely different participant within the fourth set as he dished out a bagel to degree the match as his rattled opponent took a medical timeout for what gave the impression to be a knee subject.
Boos from the group continued for the rest of the match, with some followers focusing on Bonzi throughout his service movement.
The remaining set was far more of a contest, with the duo exchanging a number of breaks of function the match wound all the way down to a nail-biting end.
Spurred on my shouts of “Courage!” and “Allez!” from his field, Bonzi sealed the win with a wonderful backhand, with Medvedev returning to his seat and smashing his racket.
“It was crazy. I may have got some new fans, but also some new non-fans,” mentioned world quantity 51 Bonzi, who has now overwhelmed Medvedev in all three of their Grand Slam encounters, every time within the first spherical.
“The vitality was loopy. Thanks to all who have been booing. Thanks for the vitality.
“I’ve never experienced something like that. We waited maybe five minutes before the match point and it was crazy. There was so much noise.”
Medvedev turns into the primary former champion to exit this yr’s match, leaving Flushing Meadows after a horrible yr on the majors the place he managed to get to the second spherical simply as soon as.