In a stunning display of on-court frustration, Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev has been slapped with a hefty $76,000 fine for his explosive antics during the 2025 Australian Open. The 2021 US Open champion’s wallet took a major hit after he repeatedly smashed cameras and rackets in fits of rage during his first two matches of the tournament.
Costly Camera Carnage
Medvedev’s meltdown began in the first round, where he faced off against world No. 418 Kasidit Samrej. Despite the seemingly easy matchup, the Russian struggled mightily, requiring five grueling sets to overcome his unheralded opponent.
In a moment of sheer frustration, Medvedev unleashed his anger on an innocent bystander – a tiny camera perched in the net. He mercilessly battered the device with his racket, earning himself a $10,000 fine for the outburst.
Racket-Smashing Rampage
The camera incident was just the beginning of Medvedev’s expensive tantrum. In his second-round match against 19-year-old American qualifier Learner Tien, the Russian’s temper flared once again.
After being broken to trail 4-3 in the second set, Medvedev hurled his racket towards the sideline in a fit of rage. The equipment skidded across the court before crashing into an advertising panel near his bench. This racket-smashing rampage, along with other code violations, resulted in a staggering $66,000 fine.
Medvedev also voiced his displeasure about being called for two consecutive foot-faults, leading to a costly double-fault during the second-set tiebreaker.
A Pricey Early Exit
To add insult to injury, Medvedev’s Australian Open campaign came to a shocking end at the hands of his young American opponent. The marathon second-round match lasted a staggering 4 hours and 49 minutes, with the final point being played just before 3 a.m. on Friday morning.
The fifth-seeded Russian, who has been a runner-up at the Australian Open for three of the past four years, never seemed to find his footing in the tournament. His lack of match practice, due in part to the recent birth of his second child, was evident in his lackluster performance.
Lessons Learned?
As the dust settles on Medvedev’s Australian Open implosion, one can’t help but wonder if the Russian will learn from this expensive experience. His on-court antics have long been a topic of discussion in the tennis world, with many calling for the temperamental star to rein in his emotions.
- Will the hefty fines serve as a wake-up call for Medvedev?
- Can he find a way to channel his passion without letting it boil over into destructive outbursts?
Only time will tell if this costly lesson will have a lasting impact on Daniil Medvedev’s on-court demeanor. For now, the Russian star will have to lick his wounds, both figuratively and financially, as he looks to regroup for the remainder of the 2025 tennis season.
