United States internationals | A new collision for Daniil Medvedev

(New York) Daniil Medvedev’s match was interrupted for more than six minutes between two points on Sunday evening, after a photographer found himself on the field on a match ball, and the United States international champion in 2021 demonstrated his anger to a decision of the referee to grant a first service ball to his opponent.

Medvedev’s most recent collision at the Louis Armstrong stadium caused a whole turnaround in the look of the match. Russian, 13^e seeded, was to a point to be eliminated, before he won the following two rounds to cause the last round against Benjamin Bonzi. The Frenchman nevertheless eliminated him in a second major tournament in a row, this time by the brand of 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6 and 6-4, in the early hours on Monday.

“This match was completely crazy,” admitted Bonzi. It is probably the biggest victory of my career. »»

And he skinned Medvedev in passing for having made him particularly tense, stressing that the behavior of the Russian had exceeded the terminals.

“The rules are the rules. The guy (the photographer) jumped in the field between two services, said Bonzi. I did not make the decision to give me a first ball. And I believe that, yes, Daniil instigated this situation, and he put oil on the fire. »»

Bonzi had just unchecking his service, when he led 5-4 in the third round. After missing it, a photographer left his position and started walking along the side lines.

Referee Greg Allensworth asked the photographer to leave the field, then indicated that Bonzi would get another first ball due to the deadline – which often happens to tennis. Medvedev then approached the referee to complain about the decision.

“He wants to go home, guys. He doesn’t want to be here. He is paid in the match, not on time, “said Medvedev in the microphone installed behind the chair.

Medvedev said after the meeting that he did not consider that the incident involving the photographer had been long enough to cause the resumption of the first Bonzi service ball.

“I was not frustrated towards the photographer. I was frustrated by the decision, said Medvedev. The deadline caused by the photographer has probably lasted four and a half seconds. I’m not sure it’s worth any (other) first ball. »»

Medvedev also shouted: “What did Reilly Opelka say?” What does Reilly Opelka say? Opelka said what? As he walked away from the referee’s chair. Opelka was punished by the ATP circuit in February after having called Allensworth of “Worse Arbitrator of the Circuit”.

Medvedev refused to develop on this part of the altercation at a press conference.

“I will already receive a big fine, so if I continue, I will put myself in hot water, so I prefer to be silent,” he said. Everyone knows what I’m talking about when I refer to Reilly. Reilly received a salty fine for that, and I will receive one, too. »»

This incident was reminiscent of the one involving Medvedev in 2019 in the same place, when spectators had hooked her for his driving differences. He then narrated the after-match crowd in the field, declaring that the hoots had motivated him.

Medvedev had snatched a towel from the hands of a bullet runner and had received a penalty from the Damien Dumusois referee. Medvedev had then launched his racket towards Dumusois, yelled at him and made him a finger of honor, near his forehead, while he was passing the referee’s chair. Medvedev had received a fine of US dollars for this match.

Medvedev had reached the final that year, then won the tournament two years later. However, he presents a 1-4 file during the Grand Chelem tournaments this season, and had also been overthrown by Bonzi in the first round at Wimbledon.

Medvedev was sitting in his chair a few minutes after the match and hit his racket several times against the ground before leaving the field.

A spokesperson for the US Tennis Association said the photographer had been escorted out of the field by the security of the United States, and added that his accreditation had been withdrawn.