Suddenly happened at the opening round of the US Open 2025, when the 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev lost to 2-3 at the hands of Benjamin Bonzi. This match also witnessed a heated controversy that made the whole Arthur Ashe stove.
Everything broke out in set 3, when Bonzi was leading 5-4 and preparing to serve a second time. At that moment, a photographer suddenly entered the area of the yard of Bonzi forcing referee Greg Allensworth to intervene. However, instead of keeping the right to serve two, he gave Bonzi back from the beginning. The referee's decision made Medvedev angry “boiling blood”, so much that he broke his racket.
Unable to keep calm, the Russian tennis player went straight to the referee's chair and then shouted loudly: “You want to end the match early to go home, right?”. The question in his extremist state was broadcast live, causing controversy on social networks.
In addition, the audience on the field also divided into two sides. They booed continuously for nearly 7 minutes, causing the atmosphere of the match to strain like a string. The photographer caused the problem later to be escorted by the security force, and was recovered the operational card on the spot. This is a rare move in US Open history.
Despite regaining set 3 and played well in set 4, but Medvedev could not maintain the concentration in the decision set. Bonzi took advantage of the opportunity and closed the match with a 3-2 victory after more than 3 hours 40 minutes of suffocation.
Speaking after the match, Medvedev could not hide the bitterness: “I do not blame the photographer, but the unwritten law is when there is an incident, the player is still able to serve the two. It is clear that the opponent is not fair.”
Meanwhile, Bonzi acknowledged the chaotic atmosphere that both were affected: “I have more audiences cheering and also more opposed people. Anyway, those energy sources also help me play with higher determination”
With this defeat, Medvedev officially became the first former king to stop in the first round of US Open. This is really sad for a Grand Slam season that he has been empty -handed from the beginning of the year.