Daniil Medvedev’s return to Flushing Meadows ended in turmoil as the 2021 champion lost in the first round to France’s Benjamin Bonzi in a late-night five-set battle marked by an unusual disruption from a courtside photographer.
The Russian, a six-time Grand Slam finalist, was already chasing the match when an incident unsettled play in the third set. At 5-4, with Bonzi serving for victory, a cameraman stepped into the playing area between serves.
The delay led to confusion, crowd unrest, and a heated exchange on court that stretched on for several minutes.
The interruption unsettled both players, with Bonzi missing his chance to close out the contest immediately. Medvedev fought back with a strong push, forcing the match into a deciding fifth set after storming through the fourth.
But the effort drained him, and Bonzi regained control to secure a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 0-6, 6-4 win that finished after midnight.
Medvedev left the court in visible distress, breaking his racquet and sitting dejectedly on the bench as his opponent celebrated.
The USTA later confirmed the photographer involved had been removed from Louis Armstrong Stadium and barred from the remainder of the event.
For Medvedev, the defeat deepens an ongoing slump. Having fallen in the opening round at three straight majors, he is now on course to drop out of the world’s top 20.
Once a divisive figure at this tournament — drawing boos in 2019 before lifting the trophy two years later — his latest setback raises further doubts about his form and resilience at the highest level.
Bonzi, meanwhile, claimed one of his biggest wins on the Grand Slam stage, progressing to round two with his composure intact despite the bizarre interruption that overshadowed the closing stages of the match