Daniil Medvedev's frustrating US Open campaign ended not only with a surprisingfirst-round loss to Benjamin Bonzi but also with a heavy fine. The Russian was penalized $42,500 for his behavior during a five-setter defeat.
The fine takes away 38,6% of his $110,000 first round prize money. It will hardly be a problem for the former champion, who left the Australian Open with even less money this January following another outburst.
The finewas split into two parts: $30,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and additional $12,500 for racket and equipment abuse once the match ended. As many times before, Daniil could not endure a tricky moment.
His temper boiled over as he struggled to find the rhythm against Bonzi, standing on the verge of defeat in the tenth game of the third set and already showing signs of frustration and obscene acts.
Benjamin had a match point at 5-4 in the third set when a photographer mistakenly wandered onto the court. The umpire Greg Allesworth sent him out and gave the Frenchman the first serve.
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The decision caused mayhem and Daniil's explosive reaction that caused a six-minute delay, as the Russian confronted the umpire and incited fans to boo loudly.
To make things even more interesting, Medvedev gained fuel from the incident and pulled the break back. He clinched the set in the tie break and stormed over his shaken opponent to force a tie break.
However, Bonzi regained his confidence and bounced back from a break down in the final set to emerge at the top and earn a massive victory. Like he did not caused enough trouble, Daniil repeatedly smashed his racket after the loss.
The Russian has often walked the fine line between composure and volatility. This episode stands out as a costly reminder of how quickly emotions can spill over in the heat of competition, especially when things do not work our way.
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Thus, Daniil ended his 2025 journey with another fine, scoring only one victory on the most notable scene throughout the year! Medvedev leaves New York lighter in his ranking and in his wallet.
However, this fine will not stop him form repeating something similar in the future.
