Featured Image Credit: ESPN
Topics: Tennis
Josh Lawless
Tennis star Daniil Medvedev has been blasted online for a "disgusting" gesture in his US Open first round defeat to Benjamin Bonzi.
Medvedev, who won the competition back in 2021, was eliminated after losing 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 0-6, 6-4 to Bonzi, who will square off against Marcos Giron in the second round on Wednesday.
Bonzi scored the victory just before 1am time at the Louis Armstrong Stadium but Medvedev was visibly upset in the contest after a photographer walked onto the court between Bonzi's first and second serve in shocking scenes.
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Facing match point at 5-4 in the third set at the time of the intrusion, Medvedev was incensed when umpire Greg Allensworth allowed Bonzi to get a second serve - urging the crowd to boo and accusing the match official of wanting to go home.
He said: "Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking? What's wrong, huh? Guys, he wants to leave. He gets paid by the match not by the hour."
With a six minute delay caused, the United States Tennis Association organisers confirmed that the photographer's credentials had been revoked after he was escorted out of the venue.
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But that wasn't the only bizarre moment from Medvedev. After the defeat, ESPN cameras captured him angrily smashing his racquet as he sat in his chair.
What ESPN didn't show on their feed was the Russian appearing to simulate an unsavoury act with his hand and tongue while on the court - prompting plenty of backlash from fans who called for him to be punished.
One user on X fumed: "He's disgusting and gets away with it every time.
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A second agreed: "He and his attitude have no place in tennis! He is an utter disgrace to tennis.
A third commented: "What's wrong with Medvedev? He needs to sit out the rest of the season and work towards 2026."
A fourth wrote: "He’s disgusting. I hope he gets some massive fines. What a sore loser. He ruins the reputation of tennis."
Commenting on his behaviour afterwards, Medvedev said: "I just expressed my emotions, my unhappiness with the decision, and then the crowd did what they did without me asking them too much. It was fun to witness."
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Bonzi, ranked No.51 in the world, has defeated Medvedev in all three of their Grand Slam matches - including the first round of Wimbledon in July.
Medvedev has won just one Grand Slam game out of four this year, with his poor run seeing him get to the second round of major competitions just once.