The US Open descended into pandemonium on Sunday night when a photographer’s courtside blunder triggered an extraordinary meltdown from former champion Daniil Medvedev, who ultimately crashed out 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 to unseeded Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
The dramatic first-round exit at Louis Armstrong Stadium saw Medvedev erupt at chair umpire Greg Allensworth, incite the crowd into a frenzy, and demolish his racquet after a controversial incident that completely changed the momentum of the match.
The 2021 champion’s shocking defeat marks his worst Grand Slam year on record, with just one match win across all four majors in 2025.
Photographer’s Blunder Ignites Controversy
The chaos erupted at the most crucial moment of the match, with Bonzi serving for victory at 6-3, 7-5, 5-4, holding advantage at 40-30 on match point.
After Bonzi missed his first serve, a photographer prematurely walked onto the court surface, attempting to reach the photographers’ pit before the second serve.
Chair umpire Greg Allensworth immediately halted play, shouting “Wait please, not now. Get off the court, please,” before making a decision that would spark bedlam.
The USTA said the photographer was escorted from the court by US Open security and that his credentials had been revoked.
Medvedev’s Explosive Reaction
Allensworth’s decision to award Bonzi a new first serve due to “outside interference” sent the 13th seed into an uncontrollable rage.
“Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking?” the Russian shouted as he stormed towards the chair.
The former world number one then turned to the courtside microphone, bellowing: “He wants to go home, guys, he doesn’t like it here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
In a reference to recent controversy at the Dallas Open, Medvedev also repeatedly shouted, “What did Reilly Opelka say?” at the official in reference to the US player’s call for Allensworth to be suspended after receiving a code violation for confronting a spectator.
Six-Minute Delay as Crowd Goes Wild
What followed was unprecedented chaos, with play suspended for approximately six minutes as deafening jeers, whistles and boos rang out around the 14,000-capacity stadium.
Medvedev encouraged the jeers, whistles and boos on Armstrong, with fans refusing to stay quiet so Bonzi could serve.
The Russian initially whipped up the crowd further, waving his arms wildly to encourage their vocal displeasure, before eventually attempting to calm them down so play could resume.
“I never experienced something like that. Maybe we wait five minutes before the match point, and it was so difficult to play,” he said. “I tried to stay calm and stay in the match, but it was not easy.”
Momentum Shift Leads to Dramatic Comeback
The extraordinary interruption proved a turning point in the match, with Medvedev channelling the crowd’s energy to mount a stunning fightback.
When play finally resumed, Bonzi double-faulted on his first serve, then lost the point, allowing Medvedev to break back and level at 5-5.
The Russian went on to win the third set in a tiebreak, making heart symbols with his hands to thank the raucous crowd for their support.
He then demolished Bonzi 6-0 in the fourth set, with his rattled opponent taking a medical timeout for what appeared to be a knee issue.
Final Set Drama and Racquet Destruction
Despite his miraculous comeback, Medvedev’s resurgence proved short-lived as both players traded multiple breaks in a nail-biting fifth set.
Spurred on my shouts of “Courage!” and “Allez!” from his box, Bonzi sealed the win with a glorious backhand, with Medvedev returning to his seat and smashing his racket.
The Russian sat in his chair for several minutes after the defeat, repeatedly demolishing his equipment before eventually departing without shaking hands with Allensworth.
Bonzi Blames Medvedev for Chaos
World number 51 Bonzi, who has now beaten Medvedev in all three of their Grand Slam encounters, didn’t hold back in his assessment of the Russian’s behaviour.
“It was crazy. I may have got some new fans, but also some new non-fans,” said world number 51 Bonzi, who has now beaten Medvedev in all three of their Grand Slam encounters, each time in the first round.
The Frenchman believed Medvedev crossed a line with his antics, stating: “I mean, the rule is the rule. The guy went on the court between two serves,” Bonzi said. “I mean, it’s not my call to say first serve. And I think, yes, Daniil started it, and he put oil on the fire.”
Medvedev’s Post-Match Perspective
Speaking after the match, Medvedev surprisingly defended the photographer while maintaining his criticism of the umpire’s decision.
“I was not upset with the photographer… it was nothing special. Every time there’s a sound from the stands between serves, there is never a second serve. But well, that helped me get back into the match. It was a fun moment to live. I wasn’t upset with the photographer.”
The Russian admitted his Grand Slam struggles, stating: “I’m playing bad and in important moments, even worse,” Medvedev said of his 2025 Grand Slam season. “Everything: serve, return, volley, whatever… I just need to play better, and I’m going to try to do it next year.”
Echoes of Past Controversies
The incident bore striking similarities to Medvedev’s infamous 2019 match on the same court, when he was booed for snatching a towel from a ball person and later taunted the crowd in his post-match interview.
Medvedev had snatched the towel from a ball person during the match and was given a code violation by umpire Damien Dumusois. Medvedev then threw his racket in the direction of Dumusois, barked something at him and later flashed his middle finger next to his forehead as he walked past the umpire’s chair, actions that led to him being fined $9,000 for that match.
Worst Grand Slam Year for Former Champion
Medvedev becomes the first former champion to exit this year’s tournament, leaving Flushing Meadows after a disappointing year at the majors, during which he managed to reach the second round just once.
The defeat continues a disastrous 2025 Grand Slam campaign for the 29-year-old, who went just 1-4 across all four majors this year.
Medvedev has enjoyed some success away from the majors in 2025, reaching an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final in Indian Wells and an ATP 500 championship match in Halle. But the 29-year-old’s horror show at the Slams represents a dramatic dropoff for a player who has been of the most consistent performers at that level in recent years: Medvedev reached at least one Grand Slam final per year from 2021 to 2024.
The stunning first-round exit marks the end of what has been Medvedev’s worst season at tennis’s biggest tournaments, leaving him to contemplate a year where his Grand Slam dreams turned into nightmares.
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Image Credit (Shortened)
Daniil Medvedev promotional photo – by ATP Tour, licensed under CC BY‑SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
