Daniil Medvedev has suffered the biggest shock of the US Open so far, losing his opener to Benjamin Bonzi.
A superb win for Bonzi over Medvedev in the first round of the US Open was, however, overshadowed by a hugely controversial moment when the Frenchman was serving for the match.
Medvedev was furious with chair umpire Greg Allensworth at that stage of the match, when Bonzi was awarded another first serve after a photographer prematurely entered the court.
The match was delayed for almost seven minutes as the Russian created a raucous atmosphere at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Bonzi lost the set but won the match 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5-7), 0-6, 6-4, with Medvedev expecting a fine for his behaviour.
Boris Becker reacts to Daniil Medvedev’s behaviour at the US Open
The Russian ended the match in equally frustrating fashion, smashing his racket several times on his bench at the side of the court.
Tennis legend Boris Becker was quick to react to the incident, writing on X: “We call this ‘public meltdown’. I think he needs professional help?!”
Benjamin Bonzi thanks US Open fans for booing him against Daniil Medvedev
The shock defeat represents the first time in Medvedev’s career that he’s lost in the first round of a Grand Slam at three successive Grand Slams.
He suffered the same disappointing fate at Wimbledon and the French Open after reaching only the second round of the Australian Open.
Adding insult to injury, it was indeed Bonzi who knocked the former ATP number one out of Wimbledon earlier this summer.
Asked to summarise the chaotic match, the Frenchman said on court: “I have no idea. It was crazy. I may have got some new fans, but also some new non-fans. Yeah, the energy was wild. Thanks for all the ones who were booing. Thanks for the energy in the fifth.
“It was crazy, match point in the third, then crazy scenario, exhausted in the fourth and gave all I had in the final set after, a crazy win.”
And when asked if he was as calm on the inside as he looked on the outside, Bonzi said: “Well, I never experienced something like that. I don’t know maybe we waited maybe five minutes before the match point.
“Then it was so difficult to play, so noisy and all the time during the points, between the points, and it was a very wild atmosphere.
“But I tried to stay calm, to stay in the match, but it was not easy. And at the end, I gave all my heart on the court and I have the win today.”
Bonzi, currently ranked 51st in the world, now takes on American Marcos Giron, who battled past Mariano Navone in five sets in their first round match.
And it remains to be seen what the immediate future holds for the Russian, with fans urging Medvedev to take a break ahead of his latest US Open appearance.
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