A massive controversy erupted in Daniil Medvedev’s match against Benjamin Bonzi at the 2025 US Open after a shocking incident involving a photographer. Bonzi, who was serving at match point, had to wait several minutes between points, as his opponent encouraged the crowd to disrupt the match after the chair umpire announced a crucial decision.
Daniil Medvedev’s Shocking Confrontation With US Open Chair Umpire
Medvedev, who lost to Bonzi in four sets in the opening round of Wimbledon this year, dealt with the similarly inspired Frenchman in the first round of the US Open on Sunday, August 24. The former champion trailed two sets to love, with Bonzi producing a match point opportunity in the third set at 6-3, 7-5, 5-4 (Adv). At this stage, the player hit a fault on his first serve. Simultaneously, a photographer seemed to enter the court, unprompted.
Chair umpire Greg Allensworth quickly noticed the disruption and screamed at the individual to leave the court area. He then announced that Bonzi would be awarded another first serve due to the unexpected interference, thus triggering Medvedev.
“Wait, please. Not now! Get off the court, please,” Allensworth shouted.
The former World No. 1, visibly furious, rushed to the chair umpire, and a heated confrontation ensued.
“Don’t shake, why do you shake? Are you a man?” Medvedev was heard yelling.
“It’s a first serve? 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,” he continued.
The Russian also mentioned Reilly Opelka, who recently shared details of the hefty fines he received after similar confrontations with chair umpires, including Allensworth. During his argument, Opelka had called Allensworth “bush league.”
MORE: Reilly Opelka Throws Shade at ATP After Shocking Details of His ‘$90,000’ Fines Emerge
“What did Reilly Opelka say? What did Reilly Opelka say?” Daniil Medvedev screamed at the camera, encouraging the crowd to boo louder.
Daniil Medvedev was visibly upset after a camera person walked on the court at match point. pic.twitter.com/5wnVf2GSFm
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2025
The play was halted for over five minutes as the crowd refused to settle down. Bonzi eventually lost the game, despite having a match point. Medvedev banked on the momentum and won the set in the tiebreak, with help from a hostile crowd.
The 2021 champion then rushed through the fourth set to force a fifth set, with the score reading 3-6, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-0 for Medvedev.
