In a thrilling late-night encounter at the US Open, France's Benjamin Bonzi pulled off a stunning upset by defeating the 13th seed, Daniil Medvedev. The match, filled with tension and drama, concluded with Bonzi advancing to the second round after an intense battle lasting three hours and 45 minutes, with a final score of 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 0-6, 6-4.
The atmosphere during the match was electric, especially during the chaotic third set. Bonzi was serving at an advantage on match point, leading 5-4 after winning the first two sets. However, the momentum shifted when chair umpire Greg Allensworth interrupted the play due to a photographer accidentally stepping onto the court. Allensworth's intervention came after Bonzi faulted on his first serve, resulting in a new first serve being awarded to him due to “delay caused by outside interference.”
This decision ignited an explosive reaction from Medvedev, who sprinted across the court to confront Allensworth. He accused the umpire of trying to prematurely end the match, exclaiming, “Are you a man? Are you a man?” He then turned to the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium, inciting them to express their discontent with loud catcalls and jeers. The delay lasted over six minutes, heightening the tension as Bonzi prepared to serve again.
Despite the interruption, Bonzi appeared rattled but managed to save match point. Medvedev capitalized on this moment, forcing a third-set tie-break, which he won, leveling the match and injecting new life into his campaign. The fourth set saw Bonzi struggle, allowing Medvedev to dominate with a 6-0 victory, leading to a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, Bonzi showcased incredible resilience, twice recovering from a break down to ultimately break Medvedev's serve, sealing his victory. After the match, Bonzi reflected on the chaotic experience, saying, “It was crazy. I may have got some new fans but also some new non-fans. The energy was wild.” He acknowledged the challenge posed by Medvedev's antics, stating, “I never experienced something like that. Maybe we wait five minutes before the match point, and it was so difficult to play.”
Following his defeat, Medvedev's frustration was palpable as he sulked into his seat and smashed his racquet. This loss marks Medvedev as the first former champion to exit this year's tournament, following a disappointing year in major tournaments where he only reached the second round once. The incident echoes Medvedev's previous controversial encounters, particularly his 2019 match on the same court, when he faced similar fan backlash and later used it as motivation in his post-match comments.
As Bonzi moves forward in the US Open, the tennis world will be watching closely to see how he capitalizes on this remarkable victory against a seasoned champion like Medvedev. The unexpected twists and emotional highs of this match highlight the unpredictable nature of tennis, making every match a thrilling spectacle for fans and players alike.
