'I'm glad I didn't win': Daniil Medvedev regrets his US Open behavior

Thursday, 27 November 2025 at 18:28

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byJordan Reynolds

Daniil Medvedev's antics during his 2025 US Open match against Benjamin Bonzi drew significant attention, and the former ATP world No. 1 reflected on them in an interview.

After reaching six Grand Slam finals from 2019 to 2024, including winning the 2021 US Open, Medvedev had a terrible 2025 season at the Majors. He started with a narrow five-set triumph over Kasidit Samrej.

Shockingly, Medvedev did not win another match at a Grand Slam this year, falling to Learner Tien, Cameron Norrie, and Benjamin Bonzi at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships and the US Open.

The second of those losses against Bonzi at Flushing Meadows contained Medvedev's unsavory antics. He had already been acting grumpily throughout the match before erupting in the third set.

Bonzi was awarded a first serve on match point after a photographer interrupted play. Medvedev launched a furious rant at the umpire and encouraged the crowd to boo him, delaying proceedings for a lengthy period.

The Frenchman lost concentration, lost the third set, and looked set for defeat after dropping the fourth 0-6. However, Bonzi then did exceptionally well to regain his composure and took the deciding set 6-4 to win.

Medvedev then had another outburst after the match and took a long time to leave the court. He finally did during Bonzi's post-match interview, taking some spotlight off him after his victory.

The 29-year-old recently conducted an interview with Sofya Tartakova of Bolshe Tennis. Although Medvedev still disagrees with the umpire's decision to grant Bonzi a first serve, he admitted his behavior was poor.

"I think winning it wouldn't help me in any way. I'd be upset because of what happened, especially on match point... Before that I didn't behave well either, but if I lost the third set 6-4, not many people would remember that match. It would've all been quick and easy. But it happened on the match point. Bonzi had nothing to do with it, it was the umpire."

"I still think, and I'm not criticizing anyone, but I think that it wasn't the right moment to grant him the first serve. It often happens that the crowd shouts, and the photographer was off the court very quickly. I would've most likely made an error off that second serve and the match would've been over, but it backfired against Bonzi."

Medvedev said he is glad to have lost because of the impact it might have had on Bonzi, but rejected any assertion that he owes a broader apology to the tennis world for his antics.

"I didn't hype the crowd to boo him or anything like that. Deep down, I'm glad I didn't win because it would've been very ugly towards him, and I wouldn't want that."

"At the US Open, it was too much... the whole situation. I just knew that all the people whom I thought I had to apologize to for my behavior, I apologized to them. I won't say who exactly it was. But I'm not one of those people who think I should apologize to the whole world."

The former world No. 1 ended 2025 well and will hope to avoid a repeat of that match against Bonzi. However, his improved form may not indicate that he is ready to challenge for Grand Slams in 2026.