Drama at the 2025 US Open: Daniil Medvedev Experiences a Controversial Meltdown

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Daniil Medvedev, the Russian tennis player known for his unique playing style, has once again captured public attention.

This time, not for his achievements, but for a controversial incident that occurred in the first round of the 2025 US Open on August 24th.

Medvedev experienced a so-called "meltdown" against French tennis player Benjamin Bonzi, a situation that resulted in a dramatic five-set defeat.

Medvedev's emotional reaction on court not only get the attention of audiences but also sparked a commentary from tennis experts.

This defeat also marked Medvedev's third consecutive Grand Slam first-round loss in 2025.

Daniil Medvedev looking totally distraught after his loss to Bonzi at the U.S. open. He’s smashing his racquet and just sitting on the court. Brutal loss to swallow. pic.twitter.com/CYvceKNR2M

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 25, 2025

Daniil Medvedev was visibly upset after a camera person walked on the court at match point. pic.twitter.com/5wnVf2GSFm

— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2025

The trigger for Daniil Medvedev's meltdown occurred in the third set of his match against Benjamin Bonzi.

As Bonzi led 6-3, 7-5, 5-4 and prepared for the winning serve, a photographer accidentally entered the court between Bonzi's first and second serves.

This external interference caused a delay of several minutes.

Chair umpire Greg Allensworth made the crucial decision to re-award Bonzi's first serve due to the interference.

This decision immediately sparked a furious outburst from Medvedev.

He immediately approached the umpire's chair and loudly protested, shouting, "Are you a man? Why are you shaking? He wants to go home, guys, he doesn't like being here. He gets paid per match, not per hour."

Furthermore, Medvedev also fanned the crowd to voice his dissatisfaction, further extending the delay by six minutes.

Although Medvedev managed to win the point and even take the third and fourth sets, he ultimately lost to Bonzi 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 0-6, 6-4.

After the match, Medvedev was seen venting his frustration by smashing his racket against a chair.

Bonzi, who is ranked 51, said: “I’m very proud of myself, the scenario of the match, the match point in the third. Then Daniil playing great and taking full advantage in the fourth. I was not in my best physically in the fifth. I tried to fight very hard to give all I had. I saw that he was not maybe at his best, too. It’s kind of crazy, this match. For me, it’s my best victory ever. It’s very special to do it here.”

Boris Becker, a former six-time Grand Slam champion, immediately commented on the platform X (formerly Twitter) that Medvedev had a "public meltdown" and "needed professional help."

"We call this 'public meltdown'" Becker wrote in a post on X about Medvedev's eruption. "I think he needs professional help ?!?".

Echoing Becker, former US tennis player and commentator Brad Gilbert also expressed his agreement.

Gilbert argued that Medvedev's "brain got the better of him" after his recent string of losses.

"Unfortunately the brain is getting the better of him after losing these close matches the last few months.

"I agree he definitely needs some help."

Former US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe offered more concrete advice, suggesting that Daniil Medvedev take a break from tennis until the end of the year.

Daniil Sergeyevich Medvedev is a Russian professional tennis player born on February 11, 1996, in Moscow.

Standing 198 cm tall and weighing around 82-83 kg, Medvedev is known for his right-handed playing style, featuring an unorthodox but highly effective two-handed backhand.

He is coached by Gilles Cervara and is fluent in Russian, English, and French.

Medvedev's professional career began in 2014, and he reached the peak of the world singles rankings on February 28, 2022.

Although currently ranked 13th in the world as of August 2025, he has collected 20 ATP Tour singles titles, including one Grand Slam title at the 2021 US Open.

He also won the 2020 ATP Finals and six Masters 1000 titles.

Novak Djokovic even described him as a "very complete player."

With a 405-174 win-loss record and total prize money of over $46 million, Medvedev is one of the most successful tennis players of the modern era.

• He held the world No. 1 ranking for a total of 16 weeks.
• Won the 2021 US Open by defeating Novak Djokovic, denying Djokovic the Calendar Slam.
• Won the 2020 ATP Finals by defeating the world No. 1, 2, and 3 players.
• One of only seven players to win six or more different Masters 1000 titles.
• Has a 5-3 record against Djokovic when Djokovic was world No. 1.