MADCAP Daniil Medvedev has been fined $42,500 (£31,000) by tennis bosses for his outrageous US Open meltdown.
The Russian, 29, 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.
Daniil Medvedev has been handed a huge fine for his US Open outburst on court[/caption]
Medvedev smashed his racket 23 times in one moment at the US Open[/caption]
The Grand Slan Board have issued their one-site fines summary and the No.13 seed was slapped with two separate punishments for his disgraceful behaviour.
There was a $30,000 (£22,000) fine for unsportsmanlike conduct for how he spoke to the umpire.
And also how he incited and whipped up the crowd when he halted play on Bonzi’s match point in set three because a dozy photographer walked on court.
For smashing his racquets in a tantrum 23 TIMES once the result was confirmed, he will have to fork out an additional $12,500 (£9,000) for abuse of racquets or equipment.
It is no great surprise officials have issued such huge fines – they add up to 39% of his $110,000 (£94,000) first-round winnings – following his controversial display.
The three-hour, 45-minute clash was extraordinarily held up for more than SIX minutes when a Turkish snapper sheepishly entered the court during a crucial 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 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 photographer was later escorted from the court by security and the US Open chiefs 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.
It was at this point that he took his anger out in his euipment and mangled one racquet beyond repair.
It was OTT antics and three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker called on him to seek “professional help” following a third successive first-round major exit.
German Becker, 57, said: “We call this (a) ‘public meltdown’…I think he needs professional help?!?”
