Franceís Benjamin Bonzi celebrates after profitable his males’s singles first spherical tennis match in opposition to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev on day one of many US Open tennis event on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in New York Metropolis, on August 24, 2025. (Picture by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
France’s Benjamin Bonzi despatched Russian thirteenth seed Daniil Medvedev crashing out of the US Open early Monday in a stormy late-night thriller that boiled over into chaos following a unprecedented third-set flashpoint.
Bonzi superior to the second spherical after holding his nerve to win 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 0-6, 6-4 in 3hr 45min.
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The match exploded into drama within the third set as Bonzi served at benefit on match level, main 5-4 after profitable the opening two units.
After faulting on his first serve, Bonzi ready to serve once more when chair umpire Greg Allensworth immediately halted play after a photographer mistakenly walked onto the courtroom.
Allensworth referred to as for time after shouting “Not now, get off the courtroom please” earlier than awarding a brand new first serve to Bonzi on the grounds of a “delay brought on by exterior interference.”
That prompted an incandescent response from Medvedev, who sprinted throughout the courtroom to remonstrate angrily with Allensworth, accusing the umpire of looking for to finish the match early.
“Are you a person? Are you a person?” the 2021 US Open champion requested Allensworth, earlier than shouting right into a courtside microphone: “He needs to go dwelling guys. He doesn’t wish to be right here, he will get paid by the match, not by the hour.”
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Medvedev then turned to the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd, waving his arms wildly to encourage them to voice their displeasure.
As deafening catcalls and jeers rained down, play was held up for greater than six minutes earlier than Bonzi lastly bought the chance to serve for the match as soon as once more.
With the Frenchman clearly rattled, Medvedev saved match level after which went on to power a third-set tie-break, which he duly received to maintain the match alive.
Bonzi appeared to wilt within the fourth set, Medvedev profitable 6-0 to ship it to a decider.
However Bonzi confirmed nice resolve within the fifth set, twice recovering from going a break down earlier than breaking Medvedev’s serve to seal victory.
“It was loopy. I’ll have gotten some new followers but in addition some new non-fans,” Bonzi mentioned afterwards.
“The power was wild. Due to all those that have been booing that gave me power within the fifth.”
Bonzi admitted he had misplaced composure throughout Medvedev’s third-set antics.
“I by no means skilled one thing like that. Perhaps we wait 5 minutes earlier than the match level and it was so troublesome to play,” he mentioned.
“I attempted to remain calm and keep within the match, but it surely was not straightforward.”
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Medvedev in the meantime slumped to his seat after the defeat, smashing a racquet violently in frustration.
