Former world number one slapped with R750,000 fine
Former world number one Daniil Medvedev has been fined $42,500 (R750,000) for his public meltdown during a first-round US Open defeat to Benjamin Bonzi.
The Russian, who won his only major title at the US Open in 2021, lost 6-3 7-5 6-7(5) 0-6 6-4 to the world number 51 Frenchman at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
While the loss marked the end of a rough 2025 Grand Slam season for Medvedev, having only won one match at the Australian Open in January, it was his antics during the match that grabbed headlines.
The incident unfolded in the third set when Bonzi, leading 6-3, 7-5, 5-4, was on match point. After Bonzi’s first serve faulted, a photographer mistakenly entered the court, causing a disruption.
Chair umpire Greg Allensworth ruled that Bonzi should receive another first serve due to the interference, which enraged Medvedev.
Medvedev confronted Allensworth, shouting, “Are you a man? Why are you shaking? He wants to go home, guys. He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
He also repeatedly yelled, “What did Reilly Opelka say?” referencing Opelka’s earlier criticism of Allensworth as the “worst umpire on tour.”
Medvedev incited the crowd, encouraging boos and chants of “second serve,” leading to a six-minute-24-second delay.
He gestured animatedly, blowing kisses and raising his arms to amplify the crowd’s reaction, before eventually trying to quiet them so Bonzi could serve.
The disruption rattled Bonzi, who double-faulted when play resumed, allowing Medvedev to win the game and the third set in a tiebreaker.
Bonzi threatened to walk off the court at one point and called for the Russian to be disqualified.
Medvedev took the fourth set 6-0, but Bonzi won the fifth set 6-4.
After the loss, Medvedev smashed his racket repeatedly against his chair, further displaying frustration.
The fine was issued for his verbal tirade against the umpire, inciting the crowd, and racket abuse, consistent with his history of on-court outbursts, such as a $76,000 fine for similar behavior at the 2025 Australian Open.
The United States Tennis Association said the photographer was escorted from the court by US Open security and that his credentials had been revoked.
Biggest tennis fines
While the fine against Medvedev is pricy, it is far from the biggest.
At the 2020 US Open, Novak Djokovic faced one of the most dramatic moments of his career when frustration led him to strike a ball that accidentally hit a line judge in the throat.
The incident brought an immediate disqualification in his fourth-round clash with Pablo Carreno Busta.
His punishment was severe: $250,000 in forfeited prize money for reaching the last 16, $10,000 for the violation itself, and $7,500 for skipping the required post-match press conference.
In total, the costly mistake amounted to $267,500.
Fast forward to the 2024 Shanghai Masters, Frances Tiafoe found himself in hot water after a heated exchange with umpire Jimmy Pinoargote.
Following a time violation during his match against Roman Safiullin, Tiafoe unleashed an expletive-laden rant that landed him a $120,000 fine.
The penalty was split evenly: $60,000 for verbal abuse and $60,000 for aggravated behavior.
Nick Kyrgios, never a stranger to controversy, made headlines at the 2019 Cincinnati Open when his temper boiled over in a second-round battle against Karen Khachanov.
His string of offenses included berating the chair umpire, smashing rackets in fury, and even leaving the court without permission.
The result was a hefty $113,000 fine for five separate counts of unsportsmanlike conduct. For Kyrgios, it was another moment that cemented his reputation as one of the most volatile figures in tennis.
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