The 2025 U.S. Open is underway in Queens, New York and is the fourth and final tennis major of the season.
Tennis being a 1-on-1 sport makes it seem like tensions are always running high, especially when the competitors will yell at their own trainers box during matches to air out frustrations.
The first round of the 2025 major presented an unusual situation. Russian star Daniil Medvedev was one point away from a huge upset loss in the first round. Suddenly, an event photographer left his position and began walking along the court, seemingly to get a better angle for the victory celebration.
The chair umpire called for a delay and awarded Medvedev’s opponent Benjamin Bonzi the first serve, erasing an earlier miss. This incited Medvedev, who took issue with the chair umpire and went on a tirade, also calling for the crowd to rain in boos from throughout the stadium. This resulted in a lengthy delay, that likes of which are extremely rare in tennis.
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Here is more on what happened between a photographer and Medvedev at the 2025 U.S. Open.
Daniil Medvedev-photographer controversy
Bonzi had ad-in and was serving for the match point in a 5-4 third set with Bonzi having a two-set lead. Bonzi missed his first serve, and then all of a sudden, before what could have been the last serve of the match, the photographer left his position and started walking along the edge of the court.
The chair umpire called for a delay and awarded Bonzi first serve. Medvedev didn’t agree with this decision and decided he was going to give the chair umpire the riot act. The crowd was booing the decision, or the photographer, it is hard to tell from the video, and Medvedev was egging them on, waving to the crowd to ramp up their support.
The Russian star then began insulting the chair umpire, to the point of asking if the umpire was a man and asking why they were shaking. The chair umpire denied shaking and remained calm while Medvedev stood and scolded him.
Medvedev even got close to the camera and said, “He wants to go home, guys, he doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
Reports after the event say that the photographer in question was escorted from the venue by security, and his credential was revoked by the UTSA.
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Daniil Medvedev-Benjamin Bonzi delay
The delay partially came from Medvedev himself. After the delay call, they were still on the final point so they were theoretically seconds from a potential end.
Instead, the Russian star walked to the chair umpire, scolded him and incited the crowd. After he walked back to the back line to await the serve, the crowd continued booing. Medvedev again waved his arms, wanting them to keep going, and they obliged. A point can’t begin unless there is silence in the arena, and the crowd in Queens booed for a full five minutes.
No action, just booing from the crowd.
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
Ironically, Medvedev came back to win the third set. He also won the fourth set, but Bonzi ended up having the last laugh and held strong in the fifth to seal the upset.
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Daniil Medvedev racket smash video
After losing to Bonzi, Medvedev looked like he had been settling his emotions sitting on his bench. All of a sudden, his emotions got the best of him and his racket paid the price.
The Russian star smashed his racket against his bag and bench for the better part of a minute until it was broken in half.
Daniil Medvedev looking totally distraught after his loss to Bonzi at the U.S. open.
He’s smashing his racquet and just sitting on the court.
Brutal loss to swallow.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 25, 2025
