Daniil Medvedev, the 13th-seeded former world number one and defending champion, crashed out in spectacular fashion from the US Open in the first round. He succumbed in a recent dramatic late-night tussle against Benjamin Bonzi. The match was an epic three hours and 45 minutes long before Bonzi was able to finally score a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 0-6, 6-4 victory. With this defeat, Medvedev became the first former champion to leave the tournament this year.
The clash between the two players escalated into chaos during the third set, primarily due to a media mishap when a photographer mistakenly wandered onto the court. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth suspended the match after the incident. To Bonzi’s surprise, he gave the player a new first serve, putting tension in the air on court.
Match Dynamics and Meltdown
Bonzi had cruised through the final, taking the first two sets with ease. Having suffered an early knockout blow, Medvedev refused to throw in the towel. He saved a match point and competed relentlessly to drag the third set into a tie-break. He not only won that tie-break—he proved his fighting spirit and thus kept his hopes for the impossible long shot alive.
Tensions boiled over shortly after. Medvedev’s anger was made even more clear after he broke his racquet in disgust following his loss. On top of that, he was slapped with a code violation for stealing a towel from a ball person in the middle of the match.
“Are you a man? Are you a man?” – Medvedev
In reaction to this outburst, Medvedev stormed back to take the fourth set 6-0, briefly turning the momentum back in his favor. It was Bonzi’s tenacity that really stood out, especially in the final set, as he twice recovered from a break deficit to clinch victory. His determination would be key as he made an early break of serve against Medvedev before holding true to claim the title.
A Night of High Emotions
Access to players during tennis’ famed off-court seclusion felt innumerable as the electric atmosphere in Arthur Ashe Stadium allowed fans to almost touch success and failure. Bonzi spoke to the electric atmosphere, enthusiastic crowd energy.
“The energy was wild. Thanks to all those who were booing that gave me energy in the fifth.” – Bonzi
As the late-night thriller highlighted, both players showed incredible heart and toughness. It further underscored Medvedev’s difficulty in staying cool under pressure. The unpredictable, outrageous, and shocking events of the evening made it clear that live sports are impossible to explain or predict.
Bonzi was gracious enough to accept a hot-and-cold reception from fans during the course of the match.
“It was crazy. I may have got some new fans but also some new non-fans.” – Bonzi
Medvedev’s Future and Implications
Medvedev’s sudden early exit raises further questions about his viability in upcoming tournaments. This worry is compounded given that in 2019, he was already fined $9,000 for similar conduct at the US Open. His performance against Bonzi illuminated both his tremendous talent and his struggle to adapt emotionally to combat this level of urgency in a pressure-cooking environment like Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how Medvedev responds to this loss. This loss has been a defining bout in his career considering his past achievements in major events.
