Daniil Medvedev’s turbulent night at the US Open drew almost as much attention off the court as it did on it, with his wife Daria visibly despairing in the stands as her husband endured one of the most dramatic meltdowns of his career.
Footage from Louis Armstrong Stadium showed Daria, 29, burying her face in her hands during a chaotic third set against France’s Benjamin Bonzi.
Seated alongside Medvedev’s coach Gilles Cervara, who remained expressionless, she appeared exasperated by yet another outburst from the 2021 champion.
The pair have grown accustomed to Medvedev’s temperamental streak, but this latest implosion seemed to test her patience more than most.
Daniil Medvedev’s turbulent night at the US Open drew almost as much attention off the court as it did on it, with his wife Daria visibly despairing in the stands as her husband endured one of the most dramatic meltdowns of his career
|ESPN
Medvedev, seeded 13th and battling a prolonged slump after early exits at all three Slams this year, looked set for a humiliating defeat when Bonzi reached match point.
Already trailing by two sets, the Russian suddenly erupted after a bizarre interruption changed the course of play.
As Bonzi prepared to deliver a second serve on match point, a photographer inexplicably wandered onto the court.
Umpire Greg Allensworth ruled the Frenchman should then be allowed to retake his first serve. That decision triggered fury from Medvedev, who stormed towards the chair in disbelief.
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“Are you a man? Are you a man?” he shouted 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.”
The Russian then turned to the crowd, repeatedly yelling: “What did Reilly Opelka say?”
Earlier this year, Opelka was fined for calling Allensworth the “worst ump on tour,” and Medvedev clearly wanted to remind fans of that verdict.
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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
The incident provoked pandemonium inside the stadium. Spectators booed relentlessly, chanting “second serve,” while Medvedev egged them on with heart-shaped gestures and flying kisses.
The chaos caused a six-minute delay, though Medvedev later insisted: “They did the work, I didn’t do anything. And they pushed me to come back into the match, it was fun for me.”
When play resumed, Bonzi double-faulted, allowing Medvedev to break and snatch momentum.
He went on to claim the third set in a tie-break and then steamrolled the fourth 6-0, appearing on the verge of a remarkable comeback.
But Bonzi regrouped in the deciding set to seal a famous 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 0-6, 6-4 victory, leaving Medvedev disconsolate.
In his frustration, the Russian repeatedly smashed his racket against the side of his bench, an outburst that overshadowed Bonzi’s celebrations.
Daria was seen leaving her seat during the carnage, unwilling to watch her husband’s final display of anger.
Despite his behaviour, Medvedev was unrepentant afterwards. Asked about his criticism of the umpire, he admitted: “I’m getting a big enough fine so if I speak I’m in big trouble so I’m not gonna speak.
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Daniil Medvedev couldn't hide his anger as he crashed out of the US Open on Sunday night
|REUTERS
"Not everyone knows what I’m talking about when I said Reilly. Reilly got fined big time for this so I’m gonna get a big fine too.”
His gestures to the crowd, meanwhile, were dismissed by Medvedev as playful.
“Heart emojis? I love them. Love in New York,” he remarked.
Medvedev will now be aiming to regroup and refocus following his heartbreaking defeat. The next Grand Slam takes place in Australia in January.