Medvedev fined $42,500 after U.S. Open meltdown

NEW YORK: Former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev was fined a total of $42,500 following his dramatic outburst during a five-set loss to France’s Benjamin Bonzi earlier this week.

The 2021 winner, seeded 13th, fell 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 on Sunday, but his behaviour in the third set overshadowed the tennis. Medvedev erupted at the umpire after a photographer entered the Louis Armstrong Stadium court during a critical moment, leading to Bonzi being granted another first serve. The incident triggered jeers from the crowd, with Medvedev further fueling the tension.

The Russian smashed his racket after the defeat, actions that earned him $30,000 in fines for unsportsmanlike conduct and an additional $12,500 for racket abuse.

While Medvedev still collected $110,000 for his first-round appearance, the penalties drew sharp criticism. Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker suggested the 28-year-old should seek professional help, calling it a “public meltdown.”

For Medvedev, the defeat marked not only an early U.S. Open exit but also one of the most costly outbursts of his career.