Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
James Moorhouse
A tennis player had a complete meltdown while playing at the US Open last night after a photographer walked onto the court at match point.
Things were already going badly for Daniil Medvedev at Flushing Meadows when a man with a camera entered the court causing a disturbance, which led to a controversial call from the umpire.
The Russian player, who is number 13 in the world, was two sets down to Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi in the first round of the grand slam tournament early this morning.
While there were plenty of odd goings on at Wimbledon earlier this summer, including an umpire giving a hilarious warning to a member of the crowd who opened a bottle of champagne during a game, this morning's call proved far more contentious with both Medvedev and the crowd.
Advert
Bonzi was serving for the match, as he was leading 5-4 in the third set with an advantage, but he missed his first serve.
Fortunately for him, and less so for Medvedev, the umpire Gregory Allensworth let him take it again after a photographer inexplicably got up and moved around the court between the 29-year-old's first and second serve.
Medvedev was furious with the decision and spoke into a camera as he addressed the umpire, saying: “Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking? What’s wrong huh?
"Guys he wants to leave. He gets paid by the match not by the hour.”
The crowd then joined in with some booing for over five minutes until play was finally able to resume, and it was clear that Medvedev had some fire in his belly as he was able to fight back and break Bonzi's serve, before winning the third set, which was no doubt even more embarrassing for the cameraman who was clearly trying to beat the traffic.
Advert
He was then forced to sit through a fifth set as Medvedev stormed to a 6-0 triumph in the fourth, after which he produced a graphic gesture towards either the umpire or the crowd, but it was Bonzi who eventually claimed the victory after a 6-4 victory in the final set.
And the Russian certainly didn't take the defeat well, smashing his racket to smithereens while Bonzi celebrated a victory marred by all the court drama.
Meanwhile, a US Tennis Association spokesman later said the photographer was escorted from the court by US Open security and his credential was revoked.
Whatever your thoughts on the decision, it certainly proved to be an exciting moment and match, which surely would have entertained even Hugh Grant, after he fell asleep during one game in London earlier this year.