Top-ranked tennis pro Daniil Medvedev destroyed a camera and his tennis racket as he faced what could have been a monumental upset in Australian Open at a wild-card entry in 418th place in the first round of the Grand Slam tournament on Tuesday.
Medvedev’s outburst came during the third set when he lost a 13-move back-and-forth with Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej to fall behind 40-15. With Medvedev up at the net, Samrej’s shot hit the net to go out of Medvedev’s reach in a direction he clearly could not have foreseen.
Daniil Medvedev reacts during his first round match against Kasidit Samrej at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Then Medvedev, a three-time Australian Open finalist, vented his anger at the net, smashing his racket several times.
In the process, Medvedev destroyed his racket and a camera that was placed directly in his path of destruction.
The staff quickly rushed to replace the broken camera and clean up the debris on the field. Medvedev received a warning for a violation of the racket abuse code from the chair umpire.
Daniil Medvedev smashes a TV net camera with his racket after losing the third set against Kasidit Samrej in the men’s singles first round match at the Australian Open on January 14, 2025. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
COCO GAUFF DELIVERS 6-WORD MESSAGE TO LA WILDFIRES TRADERS AFTER AUSTRALIAN OPEN WIN
Medvedev dropped the set to trail 2-1 and it looked like the no. 5 ranked player would be banned. But Medvedev quickly turned things around to win the next two sets 6-1, 6-2 and advance to the second round.
“At the end of last year, this match, I probably would have lost it,” Medvedev said after the match. “New year, new energy.”
Daniil Medvedev’s breakout came during the third set when he lost a 13-stroke back-and-forth with Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Medvedev is hoping to start the 2025 season with a win in Melbourne. A three-time finalist, including in last year’s tournament, Medvedev has never won the Australian Open. His biggest challenger will be Novak Djokovic, who has won more Australian Open titles than any other men’s player with 10.
