CRAZY Daniil Medvedev faces a hefty fine following one of the most outrageous US Open meltdowns in history.
But three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker called on him to seek “professional help” following a third successive first-round major exit.
Daniil Medvedev smashes his racket as he has an on-court meltdown at the US Open[/caption]
The Russian had an argument with the chair umpire which caused the delay[/caption]
The madcap Russian was booted out of the New York tournament at the end of day one following a 6-3 7-5 6-7 0-6 6-4 loss to Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
Yet the three-hour, 45-minute clash was extraordinarily held up for more than SIX minutes as a dozy photographer sheepishly walked on court on MATCH POINT.
Bonzi, 29, was serving for the win in game ten of the third set but after his first serve hit the net, umpire Greg Allensworth halted play and shouted to the errant snapper: “Wait, please. Not now. Get off the court please.”
The guy, wearing a baseball cap and carrying a rucksack, could be seen skulking behind the TV cameras.
American official Allensworth decided to grant a first serve back to Boniz for the delay caused by an “outside interference” – but then Medevdev went over to complain about that decision.
As the crowd booed, the Muscovite, 29, raged: “Don’t shake, man. Are you a man? Are you a man?
“Don’t shake. Why are you shaking? So, what’s wrong huh? What do you mean nothing wrong?
“And it’s a first serve? Ah, you want to go home? He wants to go home, guys. He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
The snapper was later escorted from the court by security and the US Open bosses revoked his credential for the rest of the tournament.
Medvedev blew kisses and incited the crowd on the Louis Armstrong Stadium – who chanted “second serve”– and the umpire lost complete control before Bonzi wasted the match point.
Though Medvedev won set three in a tie-break and then bagelled set four, world No.51 Bonzi ended up winning it in the decider, even though he struggled to serve at a top speed.
At the end, No.13 seed Medvedev smashed his racquets in a tantrum 23 TIMES and he will most certainly be hit in the pocket for that disgraceful behaviour.
German Becker, 57, said: “We call this (a) ‘public meltdown’…I think he needs professional help?!?”
Asked how much he expects to get fined, Medevdev replied: “I’ve no idea. They fine guys like me much more than other guys.
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“He was coached a lot. I hope he gets fined, too, but these guys they’re going to fine only me.
“(Nick) Kyrgios, me, (Alexander) Bublik. Who else? Reilly (Opelka). Even if Reilly is a nice guy, they fine him just because they don’t like him.”
Bonzi, who now plays American Marcos Giron, said: “Well, it was a situation, very weird, and then obviously it’s tough to refocus on the game.
“It’s kind of crazy, this match. For me it’s my best victory ever. It’s very special to do it here.
“The rule is the rule. The guy went on the court between two serves. It’s not my call to say first serve. Yes, Daniil started it, and he put oil on the fire.
“He went with the crowd crazy. He went with them. Honestly I never saw that before.
“Have I ever experienced something like that in my career? No, maybe in football stadium, but not in tennis.”
