Daniil Medvedev exits US Open in first round, fined for code violations

Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia has been fined approximately £31,500 (USD 42,500) by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for his conduct after losing in the first round.

The 29-year-old was fined $30,000 for violating sportsmanship rules and an additional $12,500 for smashing his racket against a chair during the match. This means he will lose nearly 40% of his first-round prize money.

The incident occurred when a photographer entered the court while Medvedev was playing against France’s Benjamin Bonzi. In the third set at 5-4 on match point, Medvedev became angry over the unexpected disruption.

He also reacted angrily when umpire Greg Allensworth awarded Bonzi another first serve, which further agitated the New York crowd. Play was temporarily halted for about six minutes before resuming.

After ultimately losing the match, Medvedev smashed his racket, sat on the chair for a moment in frustration, and then left the court.

Medvedev had already anticipated a substantial fine, stating, “I’m already getting a big fine, so if I say anything more, it would cause more problems, so I’m staying quiet.”