NEW YORK – Daniil Medvedev was fined a total of $42,500 from the US Open on Wednesday – more than a third of his $110,000 tournament prize money was fined for his meltdown for a first round loss after the photographer wandered onto the court during the match.
Tournament umpire Jake Garner docked Medvedev and docked $30,000 for sportsman-like behaviour and another $12,500 for racket abuse. When the match ended, Medvedev repeatedly pounded the racket against his sideline chair, destroying the equipment.
Former No. 1 Medvedev, who won the championship with the Flushing Meadows in 2021, got mad on Sunday night when referee Greg Allensworth decided to allow another first serve after a strange interruption.
Boni was the winning point when the photographer whose qualification was later revoked, starting to walk alongside the court at Louis Armstrong Stadium shortly after his disability, leading 5-4.
Allensworth tells the photographer to get off the court, then announces that Boni will get another first serve due to the delay. Medvedev approached the officials to complain. That’s when things get wild. The crowd began booing and chanted, “Second serve!” Overall, play was postponed for more than six minutes as Medvedev rilled fans and humiliated Allensworth.
“He wants to go home. Everyone. He doesn’t want to be here. He gets paid for games, not time,” Medvedev cried out to the microphone behind the referee’s chair.
When the order was restored, Medvedev took the set – and the fourth too. Bonji ultimately scored 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4.
It was Medvedev’s third consecutive Grand Slam loss in the first round, and a second consecutive Grand Slam loss to Boni after losing to him at Wimbledon.