Photographer's Court Intrusion Triggers Chaos at US Open

Daniil Medvedev's US Open first-round match turned chaotic late Sunday night when a photographer mistakenly entered the court, causing a furious reaction from the former world No. 1. The Russian player, a previous US Open champion, faced unseeded Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi. The match took an unexpected turn when a photographer disrupted play by stepping onto the court during the third set, just as Bonzi was serving on match point. The umpire granted Bonzi a fresh first serve due to the interference, which angered Medvedev.

Medvedev confronted the chair umpire, encouraging the crowd to boo him and questioning his decisions. He continued to provoke the audience by referencing another player's criticism of the umpire. Despite the disruption, Bonzi double-faulted, allowing Medvedev to win the game and extend the match into the early hours of Monday morning. The photographer was escorted from the court by US Open security, and his credential was revoked.

Medvedev went on to win the fourth set 6-0, displaying intense emotions throughout the match. Despite his efforts, Bonzi managed to secure a remarkable victory in the fifth set. Following his defeat, Medvedev was seen smashing his racket on his bench multiple times. This behavior mirrored a previous incident in 2019 when Medvedev received fines for his on-court actions.

In a similar outburst, Medvedev's loss at the US Open was marked by his visible distress and racket smashing. Bonzi remained focused amid the chaos, securing his place in the second round. Medvedev's struggles in major tournaments this year continued with this defeat, following an upset in the first round at Wimbledon. The incident echoed a previous match where another player criticized the same umpire for his decisions during a match in February.