Meltdown-prone Medvedev needs professional help, says Becker
The Russian was knocked out in the first round of the US Open after a 6-3 7-5 6-7(5) 0-6 6-4 to Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
New Delhi: Daniil Medvedev's antics have become all too frequent and he should seek professional help to deal with it, tennis legend Boris Becker has said.
The Russian was knocked out in the first round of the US Open after a 6-3 7-5 6-7(5) 0-6 6-4 to Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
The 2021 champion launched a tirade against the chair umpire and tried to wind up a jeering crowd that prevented Bozni from serving at times.
Facing match point when two sets down, the 13th seed found a way to extend the match to the fifth set after a photographer wandered onto Louis Armstrong Stadium court followed a mifired first serve from Bonzi.
Medvedev then got incensed at the umpire's decision to allow Bonzi another first serve because of the unintended intervention of the photographer.
"We call this 'public meltdown' ... I think he needs professional help?!?" Becker wrote on social media platform X, also sharing a video of Medvedev smashing his racket after his loss.
Top Elite coach Brad Gilbert also endorsed Becker's view, pointing towards Medvedev's previous instances of poor behaviour.
"He did the same thing after his loss in Washington DC, was a complete meltdown there too," Gilbert said, as quoted by Reuters.
"Unfortunately the brain is getting the better of him after losing these close matches the last few months. I agree he definitely needs some help."
While speaking to reports after his loss on Sunday, Medvedev insisted he wasn't angry at the photographer but was unhappy with the chair umpire's decision.
"I think nothing special. Every time there is a sound from the stands between the serves, there is never a second serve. But well, it helped me get back into the match," he said.
"It was a fun moment to live. I was not upset with the photographer. I was upset with the decision."
Medvedev needs a break to sort out his mind, former player now analyst Patrick McEnroe said but received nacking from another temperamental player Australian Nick Kyrgios.
"Medvedev needs to take the rest of the year off," McEnroe said.
"Medvedev is the best," Kyrgios wrote on social media.