Daniil Medvedev Fined £31,450 After US Open First-Round Meltdown
SME News UK. Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev has been fined £31,450 by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) following his on-court outburst during a dramatic first-round defeat to France’s Benjamin Bonzi at the US Open.Medvedev, who was furious with umpire Greg Allensworth’s decision to allow Bonzi a first-serve replay after a photographer entered the court on match point, received two separate sanctions: £22,200 for unsportsmanlike conduct and £9,250 for smashing his racquet.The punishment significantly reduced his tournament earnings. First-round losers at the US Open collect £81,500, meaning Medvedev forfeited more than a third of his prize money.A Troubled SeasonThe defeat capped a frustrating Grand Slam campaign for the Russian, who has failed to advance beyond the second round of any major this year. His only Slam victory in 2025 came at the Australian Open in January, where he was also handed a hefty £62,456 fine for destroying on-court cameras, disputing umpire decisions, and skipping his post-match press conference.In New York, Medvedev battled hard in a tense five-set contest, even delivering a fourth-set bagel, before ultimately succumbing 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 after three hours and 46 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.Medvedev’s ResponseAfter the match, Medvedev admitted he expected sanctions but refused to openly criticise officials:> “I’m getting a big enough fine, so if I speak, I’m in big trouble. They fine guys like me much more than other guys,” he said.He added that his frustration was directed at the umpire’s ruling, not the photographer:> “The delay from the photographer was probably four and a half seconds. I’m not sure it’s enough for a second serve. Every time there’s a sound from the stands, it’s always a second serve, but this time it wasn’t.”Reflecting on his season, the 2021 US Open champion admitted his form has been far below his usual standards:> “I’m playing bad, and in important moments, even worse. Serve, return, volley, everything. I just need to play better, and I’m going to try to do it next year.”Medvedev’s early exit marks a disappointing conclusion to his 2025 Grand Slam journey, while Bonzi advances to the second round after one of the most notable victories of his career.
