Medvedev breaks his silence on his anger at the US Open: "I wish I had exploded my racket in the locker room"

The Russian looks back unfiltered on his defeat against Benjamin Bonzi at the US Open and on that viral scene, between frustration, cramps, and mea culpa.

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Jules Hypolite

le 27/11/2025 à 21h39

2 min to read

Bonzi Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev had a disappointing 2025 season, eliminated early in each of the Grand Slam tournaments, while also dropping out of the top 10.

At the US Open, the Russian made an impression by being beaten in the first round by Benjamin Bonzi and by his sometimes borderline behavior towards his opponent as well as the chair umpire.

"I had cramps, I couldn't get up"

For the media Bolshe!, Medvedev looked back on this defeat and his anger after the match, having smashed a racket on his bench:

"I had one racket left in my bag and I hadn't given it. But nowadays, everything is exaggerated. People started saying that I had disrespected my opponent, because I stayed on my bench while he was in the middle of an interview.

But I had cramps. I couldn't get up. Of course, I would have preferred to break that racket in the locker room. I would have left the court as quickly as possible and no one would have seen it.

I started packing my things, my legs started cramping and I sat down. He was already answering an interview and I was wondering what I was doing on the court, but I couldn't move.

In the end, it was just another experience. I apologized to those who deserved an apology. On the court, there are emotions and adrenaline. For me, how you behave off the court is more important."