Daniil Medvedev handed USD 45,000 fine for dramatic US Open meltdown

World No. 13 Daniil Medvedev was handed a hefty fine of 42,500 US dollars after his dramatic first-round exit at the 2025 US Open in Flushing Meadows. Although he earned 110,000 US dollars in prize money, the fine swallowed up more than a third of his earnings.

The controversy unfolded during his 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4 defeat to Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi. Medvedev’s fury boiled over in the third set when, facing match point, a photographer wandered onto the court. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth responded by giving Bonzi a fresh first serve, sparking Medvedev’s rage.

He stormed at the umpire, heckled him, and whipped the crowd into chaos as boos and chants rang out, with play delayed for over six minutes. After the defeat, Medvedev smashed his racket, adding to his record of on-court misconduct. The fine was split into 30,000 US dollars for unsportsmanlike behaviour and 12,500 US dollars for racket abuse.

Reactions were sharp: tennis great Boris Becker branded it a “public meltdown” and suggested Medvedev might need professional help. Fellow Russian Andrey Rublev, however, showed empathy, admitting his own emotional struggles make it hard to judge too harshly.

Danill Medvedev’s horrendous Grand Slam year

Medvedev endured a highly disappointing Grand Slam season in 2025. At the Australian Open, he battled through a dramatic five-set first-round clash against Kasidit Samrej but was shocked in the second round by qualifier Learner Tien in another five-set thriller.

His struggles deepened afterward: Medvedev fell in the opening round of the French Open to Cameron Norrie, before suffering another first-round defeat at Wimbledon to Benjamin Bonzi.

The US Open brought no redemption either, meaning Medvedev progressed beyond the first round at just one Grand Slam all year.