Medvedev Beaten After Photographer Invades Court

A devastated Daniil Medvedev was knocked retired of nan US Open aft a meltdown sparked by a photographer stepping connected to nan tribunal during his first-round conclusion by Benjamin Bonzi.

Medvedev has produced immoderate bonzer moments astatine Flushing Meadows complete nan years – but what happened connected nan 2021 champion's measurement to different humbling conclusion was possibly nan astir incredible.

As nan Russian faced lucifer constituent astatine 5-4 successful nan 3rd set, nan cameraman walked connected to nan playing aboveground betwixt his French force Bonzi's first and 2nd serve.

Cue bedlam arsenic nan incident - and Medvedev's guidance - changed nan people of nan match.

Medvedev, 29, raged aft umpire Greg Allensworth decided Bonzi could person different first serve, whipping nan New York crowd into a frenzy and forcing a hold of six minutes and 24 seconds.

Bonzi understandably mislaid attraction arsenic boos rained down and could not service retired victory.

Almost 2 hours later, soon earlier 1am section time, he yet secured a singular 6-3 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 0-6 6-4 win.

"The power was wild," said Bonzi. "Thanks for each those who were booing - acknowledgment for nan power successful nan 5th set."

The photographer, who appeared to beryllium trying to find a position successful nan long-lens pit astatine nan broadside of nan court, was later escorted retired of Louis Armstrong Stadium by security.

"His credential has been revoked for nan 2025 US Open," United States Tennis Association organisers told BBC Sport.

When an inspired Bonzi served for nan lucifer successful nan 3rd set, Medvedev's caller struggles looked group to proceed pinch a straightforward defeat.

Then nan reside of nan lucifer - and nan full nighttime - switched successful an instant because of nan correction by nan unsuspecting photographer.

Allensworth instantly shouted astatine nan man to get disconnected tribunal and gave different first service to Bonzi, because he deemed nan interference to beryllium an unreasonable delay.

Medvedev, who had been subdued to that point, became furious pinch Allensworth – whipping up nan crowd pinch his hands arsenic he skipped towards nan umpire's chair to protest.

Medvedev accused nan charismatic - who was criticised by American subordinate Reilly Opelka over a determination earlier this year - of "wanting to spell home".

By now, nan crowd was frenzied successful its support of Medvedev and a chant of "second serve" rang astir Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Medvedev continued to enactment arsenic nan ringleader earlier yet attempting to quieten nan boisterous crowd.

During nan tense delay, Bonzi told Allensworth that Medvedev should beryllium fixed a clip usurpation because "he caused this".

When Bonzi yet stepped connected nan baseline to serve, he was disrupted by much boos earlier yet resuming - and proceeding cheers erstwhile he missed his first serve.

There were much roars seconds later erstwhile he mislaid nan lucifer constituent pinch a backhand into nan net.

"It was a crazy scenario," Bonzi said.

"I person ne'er knowledgeable thing for illustration that. It was truthful difficult to play, truthful noisy. But I tried to enactment calm – it was not easy."