The pivotal moment arrived as Bonzi, ranked 51st in the world, stood on the brink of victory, serving at 6-3, 7-5, 5-4. Suddenly, a photographer wandered onto the court, halting play and plunging the arena into pandemonium. The interruption led chair umpire Greg Allensworth to order a replay of Bonzi’s first serve, a decision that ignited Medvedev’s fury. Storming toward the umpire, the Russian unleashed a tirade: “Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking?” His frustration boiled over as the crowd roared, their boos and whistles reverberating through the stadium and fueling the chaos.
The match was suspended for nearly six minutes, a surreal pause as security escorted the photographer from the court and the US Tennis Association revoked his credentials. Yet, from this maelstrom, Medvedev seemed to draw strength. He erased match point, broke Bonzi to level the set, and clawed his way through a tense tiebreak to force a fourth set. With the crowd in a frenzy, Medvedev surged, delivering a 6-0 “bagel” as Bonzi called for a medical timeout, visibly rattled and nursing a knee issue.
But the Frenchman, spurred by shouts of “Courage!” and “Allez!” from his box, steeled his nerves for the deciding set. The atmosphere was electric, every point fiercely contested as boos rained down, some targeting Bonzi during his serve. Ultimately, Bonzi’s sublime backhand clinched the match, and Medvedev, overwhelmed by the defeat, smashed his racket in frustration before slumping in his chair.
“It was crazy. I may have got some new fans, but also some new non-fans,” Bonzi reflected, basking in the manic energy of the crowd. “The energy was crazy. Thanks to all who were booing. Thanks for the energy.”
Medvedev, meanwhile, became the first former champion to be knocked out of this year’s US Open, marking a disastrous run at the majors—only once this year had he advanced beyond the second round. In the press conference, Medvedev clarified his anger was not with the photographer, but with the umpire’s decision: “Every time there’s a sound from the stands between serves, there’s never a second serve. But the umpire gave him a first serve. That’s what made me angry.”
For Bonzi, the incident marked a line crossed: “Daniil started it, and he put oil on the fire. He went with the crowd crazy. He went with them. Honestly, I never saw that.”
The night ended with Medvedev, once a champion in New York, left to ponder his future amid a swirl of controversy and crowd fervor. As the lights dimmed on Louis Armstrong Stadium, one thing was certain: this was a match that would be remembered for its sheer spectacle and high-octane emotion.
For more on this electrifying night, visit the official US Open Tennis website or follow Daniil Medvedev on Twitter for updates and reactions.