ATP Tour

Amid chaotic scenes, Bonzi caps Medvedev's nightmare year at the majors

Daniil Medvedev is unlikely to look back fondly on the 2025 Grand Slam season.

The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings has ended his year at the majors with just one match win after he fell to a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 defeat against Benjamin Bonzi on Sunday night at the US Open. After stealing the third set amid chaotic scenes, Medvedev twice surrendered a break in the fifth set. After shaking hands with Bonzi, he tossed six racquets from his bag to fans in the stands.

Despite a courageous comeback and some excellent shotmaking, Medvedev produced an error-strewn performance on Louis Armstrong Stadium, offering up 64 unforced errors overall. For Bonzi, it was a second consecutive Grand Slam victory against Medvedev following his four-set triumph in the pair’s clash at Wimbledon in late June.

The 20-time tour-level champion Medvedev began his Grand Slam year by rallying from two-sets-to-one down to defeat then-World No. 418 Kasidit Samrej at the Australian Open. He then fell to Learner Tien in five sets in the second round in Melbourne, before falling to Cameron Norrie in five at Roland Garros, and Bonzi at both Wimbledon and now the US Open.

“I'm playing bad and in important moments, even worse,” Medvedev said of his 2025 Grand Slam season. “Everything: serve, return, volley, whatever… I just need to play better, and I'm going to try to do it next year.”

_{^{Benjamin Bonzi defeats Daniil Medvedev on Sunday at the US Open. Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images}}

Sunday night’s encounter between Medvedev and Bonzi in New York did not lack drama. Bonzi appeared set to wrap a comfortable upset when he stepped up to serve on match point at 5-4, 40/30 in the third set, but an unexpected interruption acted as a catalyst for wild scenes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The bedlam began when a photographer ran from the court entrance onto the court surface inside the side court signage to take his position in the photographers’ pit after Bonzi missed his first serve on the match point. Umpire Greg Allensworth awarded the Frenchman another first serve due to the disturbance. Medvedev ran towards the umpire’s chair to remonstrate and soon after encouraged the crowd to raise as much noise as they could muster.

Sustained crowd noise delayed play for about five minutes. As Bonzi paced near the back of the court, even Medvedev was concerned things had spiralled out of control and he signalled for an end to the chaos. Upon resumption, a Bonzi fault drew an enormous roar from fans. When Medvedev won a baseline exchange to get back to deuce, fans erupted.

Massive roars rang out when Medvedev then earned – and converted – a break point to level at 5-5. The former US Open champion, who once fancied himself a villain to the New York crowd – made a heart symbol with his hands to thank them for their support. After clinching the set in a tie-break, he repeated the gesture.

Medvedev raced away with the fourth set and broke in the first game of the fifth. But he handed back the break immediately. He also handed back a break at 3-3. Despite serving below full strength due to a leg injury, Bonzi fought off five break points to hold for 4-3 and soon after broke Medvedev in the final game of the match to secure a dramatic win for new coach Nicolas Mahut.

“It’s a very important win, it’s my first Grand Slam with Nico, our first week together,” Bonzi said on court after the victory. “I gave all my heart on the court and I have the win today.

“I'm very proud of myself, the scenario of the match, the match point in the third. Then Daniil playing great and taking full advantage in the fourth. It's kind of crazy, this match. For me it's like my best victory ever. It's very special to do it here.”

Medvedev has enjoyed some success away from the majors in 2025, reaching an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final in Indian Wells and an ATP 500 championship match in Halle. But the 29-year-old’s horror show at the Slams represents a dramatic dropoff for a player who has been of the most consistent performers at that level in recent years: Medvedev reached at least one Grand Slam final per year from 2021 to 2024.