Andrey Rublev has promised to stand by childhood friend Daniil Medvedev in the aftermath of the Russian’s latest on-court meltdown at the US Open.
Medvedev, a former champion in New York, crashed out in the opening round on Sunday night after a chaotic five-set battle with France’s Benjamin Bonzi.
The match spiralled out of control late in the third set when a photographer inadvertently walked onto the court with Bonzi serving at match point.
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Chair umpire Gregory Allensworth controversially awarded the Frenchman a fresh first serve instead of a second, sparking fury from Medvedev.
Andrey Rublev has promised to stand by childhood friend Daniil Medvedev in the aftermath of the Russian’s latest on-court meltdown at the US Open
|REUTERS
The 29-year-old berated the official, goading the crowd into booing for nearly six minutes.
“Are you a man? Are you a man?” Medvedev raged at Allensworth. “Why are you shaking? What’s wrong, huh? Guys, he wants to leave. He gets paid by the match not by the hour.”
He then turned to the stands, repeatedly shouting: “What did Reilly Opelka say?”
This was a reference to Opelka’s past claim that Allensworth was the “worst ump on tour”.
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Although Medvedev fought back to take the third and fourth sets, Bonzi regained his composure to seal a famous 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 0-6, 6-4 victory.
Medvedev’s frustration boiled over after the final point as he sat slumped in his chair before smashing his racket repeatedly into the court.
Tennis great Boris Becker has since suggested Medvedev should seek 'professional help' to manage his temper, but Rublev says he and others close to the world No 13 will always be there.
“I don’t know, if he wants to change and needs help he has me, a lot of other friends and family that will help him,” Rublev told the BBC after his own straight-sets win in round one.
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Daniil Medvedev was visibly upset after a camera person walked on the court at match point. pic.twitter.com/5wnVf2GSFm
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2025
“But it’s his life and his decision what he needs to do. Only he knows what is happening.
"I haven’t spoken to him yet, I think he needs to take some time because it was a tough loss for him, but I will text him. The year he’s had in the Slams [winning only one match] has not been easy for him.”
The two Russians go back decades. Medvedev has often recalled their first junior match, when both were five or six.
“I remember that he was going crazy after every lost point, just like me,” Medvedev said last year.
“When I saw it, I knew I acted like this, but I was like, ‘Who is this guy? What’s wrong with him?’ That was pretty funny.”
Both men have developed reputations for volatile behaviour.
Rublev himself suffered a meltdown at last year’s US Open, hitting his racket against the court so hard he drew blood.
He has also been disqualified from tournaments for furious outbursts, including at the Dubai Championships.
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Daniil Medvedev couldn't hide his anger as he crashed out of the US Open on Sunday night | REUTERSThe 27-year-old has since sought to manage his emotions with help from former world No 1 Marat Safin, who encouraged him to see a psychologist.
“I was taking anti-depression tablets and it was not helping at all,” Rublev told the Guardian earlier this year.
“I stopped all the tablets and Marat Safin helped me a lot with conversation.
"He made me realise many things and then I started to work with a psychologist. I don’t feel that crazy anxiety anymore.”