UPDATE: The US Open was thrown into turmoil on September 3, 2023, when a photographer unexpectedly entered the court as Daniil Medvedev faced match point, halting the first-round match and triggering a dramatic outburst from the former champion. Medvedev ultimately fell to Benjamin Bonzi with a score of 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 in a match marked by chaos.
The incident unfolded as Bonzi prepared to serve for the match at 5-4. The disruption forced chair umpire Greg Allensworth to reset Bonzi’s serve, igniting an astonishing reaction from Medvedev. “Are you a man? Why are you shaking?” he shouted at Allensworth before directing his ire towards Bonzi, claiming, “He wants to go home, guys.”
The scene at Louis Armstrong Stadium grew increasingly chaotic, with fans jeering and booing as the match was halted for approximately six minutes. Amid the uproar, Medvedev rallied to fend off match point, leveling the set at 5-5 and eventually taking the tiebreak to force a fourth set.
The USTA confirmed that the photographer was escorted off the court and had their credentials revoked. This disruption appeared to rejuvenate Medvedev, who showcased a stunning performance in the fourth set, delivering a bagel to Bonzi as the match continued.
However, the momentum shifted back to Bonzi, who received a medical timeout for a knee issue. Despite the ongoing boos from the crowd, Bonzi, spurred on by cheers of “Courage!” and “Allez!” from his supporters, battled back to win in a tense final set that featured multiple breaks of serve. He clinched victory with a spectacular backhand, prompting Medvedev to respond in frustration by smashing his racket.
“It was crazy. I may have got some new fans, but also some new non-fans,” Bonzi stated post-match. “The energy was crazy. I’ve never experienced something like that.”
With this defeat, Medvedev becomes the first former champion to be eliminated from this year’s tournament, capping off a disappointing season where he advanced past the second round only once.
As fans and analysts reflect on this chaotic match, all eyes will be on Bonzi, who has now triumphed over Medvedev in all three of their Grand Slam encounters, each time in the first round.
Stay tuned for further updates as the US Open progresses, with the tournament continuing to deliver unexpected twists and turns.
