Tennis is usually pretty quiet. You hear the squeak of sneakers, the thwack of a yellow ball, and maybe a polite clap. Then there is Daniil Medvedev. When the Russian star steps onto the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, things tend to get loud. And weird.
The most recent Medvedev meltdown US Open fans witnessed in August 2025 wasn't just a simple case of a player losing their cool. It was a six-minute circus that involved a rogue photographer, a confused umpire, and a crowd that was basically being conducted like an orchestra by Medvedev himself.
Honestly, it was peak New York drama. If you missed the chaos or just saw the clips of him smashing his racket into a million pieces, you’re only getting half the story.
The Photographer Incident: How it All Started
So, imagine this. It’s the first round. Medvedev is playing Benjamin Bonzi, a Frenchman who has had his number lately. It’s late at night. The air is thick. Bonzi is at match point in the third set. He’s about to serve for the win.
Suddenly, a photographer—Selcuk Acar—decides it’s a great time to go for a stroll. He walks right onto the court area. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth has to stop everything. He shouts at the guy to get off the court.
Because of the "outside interference," Allensworth decides to give Bonzi a fresh first serve.
Medvedev lost it.
He didn't just disagree; he went into a full-blown orbit. He didn't care about the photographer, really. He was mad at the umpire. He sprinted over to the chair, shouting, "Are you a man? Why are you shaking?"
He then walked over to the courtside microphones so the whole world could hear him and started roasting the umpire to the crowd. "He wants to go home, guys," Medvedev yelled. "He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour!"
Orchestrating the Chaos
What happened next was kinda legendary and kinda terrible, depending on who you ask. Medvedev didn't just sit there and stew. He turned to the fans in Louis Armstrong Stadium and started waving his arms, basically begging them to boo louder.
And boy, did they.
The match was delayed for over six minutes. Bonzi had to stand there, freezing cold (metaphorically), while the stadium turned into a riot. People were chanting "Second serve!" and jeering. Medvedev was blowing kisses to the stands.
It worked, though.
Bonzi, totally rattled, missed that first serve, lost the point, and eventually lost the set. Medvedev bageled him 6-0 in the fourth set. It looked like the meltdown had actually saved him. But in true US Open fashion, the drama didn't end there. Bonzi somehow found his legs in the fifth set and knocked the former champion out of the tournament.
The aftermath? Medvedev sat on his bench and absolutely obliterated his racket. He was eventually fined $42,500—$30,000 for the unsportsmanlike conduct and another $12,500 for the racket abuse. That was more than a third of his total prize money for the week.
A History of "The Bear" vs. New York
To understand why this Medvedev meltdown US Open moment was so on-brand, you have to look back at 2019. That was the year he became a "villain."
During a match against Feliciano Lopez, he snatched a towel from a ball person and flashed a middle finger at the crowd (cleverly hidden by his forehead). When they booed him, he gave one of the greatest post-match interviews ever.
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"Thank you all guys, because your energy tonight give me the win. The more you do this, the more I will win for you!"
He leans into it. He thrives on the friction. Most players want to be loved; Medvedev is perfectly happy being the guy you love to hate.
The "One Player is Going to Die" Warning
We also can't forget 2023. This wasn't a "tantrum" in the traditional sense, but it was a psychological meltdown brought on by 95-degree heat and brutal humidity. During his quarterfinal against Andrey Rublev, Medvedev walked up to a camera mid-point and stared into the lens.
"One player is going to die, and they're going to see," he muttered.
He was gasping for air. He was using an inhaler. He said after the match he literally couldn't see the ball anymore and was playing purely on "sensation." It was a grim, dark moment that highlighted how dangerous the conditions at Flushing Meadows can get.
Why This Matters for Tennis
Critics like Dr. Jim Taylor, a sport psychologist, have called his behavior "disgraceful" and "inexcusable." They argue it’s bad for the kids watching and disrespectful to the opponent.
But there’s another side.
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Tennis can sometimes feel a bit robotic. Medvedev is raw. He’s honest. He’s clearly dealing with a massive amount of pressure, and when he "crashes out," it’s human. In 2025, he had a rough year—four straight first-round exits at slams. That kind of frustration has to go somewhere.
Is it "classless"? Maybe. Is it entertaining? Absolutely.
What to Watch for Next
If you're following Medvedev’s career, keep an eye on his interaction with umpires. He seems to have a specific trigger when he feels a ruling is "amateur." He even referenced American player Reilly Opelka's past criticisms of Greg Allensworth during his 2025 outburst.
For fans and bettors, these meltdowns are a double-edged sword. Sometimes they fuel him to a comeback; other times, they’re the sound of a player mentally checking out.
Next steps for fans:
- Check the USTA official fine reports: They usually release the specific breakdown of penalties a few days after a major incident.
- Watch the humidity index: If it’s over 50% humidity in New York, Medvedev is a high-risk candidate for an "on-court commentary" session.
- Follow the "Villain Arc": Watch his next post-match press conference. He’s usually much more calm and surprisingly funny when the adrenaline wears off.
New York brings out the best and worst in athletes. For Daniil Medvedev, it's usually both at the same time.