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New Delhi: Daniil Medvedev was fined $42,500 for his antics during his first US Open exit to Benjamin Bonzi earlier in the week. The 2021 champion lost 6-3 7-5 6-7(5) 0-6 6-4 on Sunday and his behaviour during the match grabbed headlines afterwards.
He launched into a tirade against the umpire and riled up jeering fans who halted his opponent from serving. When Medvedev faced match point in the third set a photographer entered the Louis Armstrong Stadium court just when Bonzi faulted on his first serve.
The chair umpire allowed Bonzi another first serve as the photographer had entered the court unauthorised, triggering Medvedev. The Russian expressed rage against the decision and afterwards went down in five sets.
After losing, he smashed his racquet courtside, which six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker described as a "public meltdown". Medvedev has a long history of throwing tantrums and earning fines for it.
For his first round appearance at New York, he received $110,000 but ws fined $30,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and $12,500 for abuse of his racket, the U.S. Open said.
Taylor Townsend won 7-5 6-1 against Jelena Ostapenko in the second round on Wednesday and the two players were then involved in a heated argument at the net.
During handshake at the net, Ostapenko's sharp tongue sparked the argument as Townsend was heard saying, "I don't have to do anything" while her opponent repeatedly pointed towards her.
Townsend then walked away and shook the chair umpire's hand befoe celebrating her victory with the crowd.
"It's competition. People get upset when they lose and some people say bad things. She told me I had no class, I have no education and to see what happens when we get outside the US," Townsend said later.
"I'm looking forward to it. I mean, I beat her in Canada outside the US so let's see what else she has to say."
Ostapenko said on Instagram later that she became angry when Townsend refused to apologise after winning a point at a crucial moment when her ball clipped the net and stayed in play, terming it "disrespectful".
"There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow and it was the first time ever that this happened to me on tour," Ostapenko wrote.
"If she plays in her homeland, it doesn't mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants."
