Daniil Medvedev unleashed an extraordinary 40-second rampage at the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday, repeatedly destroying his racket after falling 2-0 down in the second set against Matteo Berrettini.
The Russian world number 10 first hurled his equipment against the back fence before slamming it into the clay surface multiple times as spectators cheered with increasing volume.
The crowd began anticipating each successive blow, jeering from the stands as Medvedev pursued his battered racket around the court.
After reducing the frame to tatters, the 30-year-old deposited the mangled remains into a courtside bin, receiving a code violation warning for his troubles.
The humiliating defeat marked the first time in Medvedev's professional career that he failed to win a single game, suffering what tennis terms a "double bagel".
Berrettini wrapped up proceedings in just 49 minutes, becoming the first ATP player in a decade to achieve a 6-0 6-0 scoreline against a top-10 opponent.
The statistics painted a grim picture for the former world number one: 27 unforced errors against merely three winners, only nine points secured from 33 service attempts, and a total of just 17 points from 67 played.
Remarkably, Medvedev never held a single game point on his own serve throughout the entire contest.
Daniil Medvedev unleashed an extraordinary 40-second rampage at the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday
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Social media users reacted with astonishment to the on-court meltdown.
One fan described it as "a Daniil Medvedev tennis racket smash for the ages."
Another said it was "genuinely tough" seeing the Russian "chasing his racket round the court so he can keep smashing it."
A third viewer added: "The second-hand embarrassment is killing me."
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Daniil Medvedev deposited the mangled remains into a courtside bin, receiving a code violation warning for his troubles
|SKYSPORTS
A fourth described the scenes as "one of the most surreal images from recent times."
Berrettini, who entered the tournament on a wildcard following another injury-disrupted campaign, appeared taken aback by the comprehensive nature of his triumph.
The Italian said: "I think it was definitely one of the best performances of my life."
Daniil Medvedev repeatedly destroyed his racket after falling 2-0 down in the second set against Matteo Berrettini
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He added: "I think I missed three shots in the whole match and it's not easy, especially with a tricky player like Daniil."
The former Wimbledon finalist has now progressed through two rounds at Monte Carlo without conceding a single game.
He had advanced from his opening match when Roberto Bautista Agut retired whilst trailing 4-0.
Berrettini will face either João Fonseca or Arthur Rinderknech in the third round.