Daniil Medvedev has been fined £31,485 ($42,500) following his first-round exit from the US Open after a heated incident involving a photographer and subsequent unsportsmanlike conduct.
The 2021 US Open champion’s penalty amounts to nearly 40 percent of the £81,490 ($110,000) he earned for his participation at Flushing Meadows. Tournament referee Jake Garner confirmed the fine after Medvedev’s outburst during his defeat to France’s Benjamin Bonzi.
The sanction includes £22,225 ($30,000) for unsportsmanlike behavior and £9,260 ($12,500) for racket abuse. Officials noted that the fine ranks among the most severe financial penalties imposed in the tournament’s history.
The incident occurred during a critical moment in the third set. Bonzi was serving at 5-4 with match point when a photographer unexpectedly walked onto the court following a fault. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth responded by awarding Bonzi another first serve, a decision that triggered Medvedev’s furious reaction.
Medvedev confronted the umpire and incited the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd, leading to a suspension of play for over six minutes. Officials stated that order needed to be restored before the match could continue. The photographer’s credential was immediately revoked, and he was banned from re-entering the stadium.
The disruption initially appeared to favor Medvedev. Bonzi struggled to regain composure in the charged atmosphere, allowing the Russian to force a deciding fifth set. However, Medvedev’s earlier meltdown overshadowed his comeback efforts, and he ultimately lost the match.
Medvedev, a former world number one and Grand Slam champion, destroyed his racket in frustration and sat visibly distraught on the court following the defeat. The dramatic sequence has drawn comparisons to past high-profile on-court controversies that altered match outcomes.
The episode adds to a growing list of disciplinary actions against top players at major tournaments. It also raises questions about officiating decisions and the management of unexpected interruptions at elite sporting events.
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