On a wild opening night at the US Open, French underdog Benjamin Bonzi pulled off the shock of the tournament, defeating former champion Daniil Medvedev in a dramatic five-set encounter that had everything: brilliance, bedlam, and a boiling point that rewrote the momentum of the match.
In front of a raucous crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Bonzi held his nerve to defeat the No. 13 seed 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 in three hours and 45 minutes. But it wasn’t just the result that left fans stunned- it was the path that led there.
Fast Start for the Benjamin Bonzi
Bonzi, ranked No. 51 in the world and coached by former doubles great Nicolas Mahut, came out swinging. He dictated early rallies, broke Medvedev’s serve with sharp returns, and took the first two sets with poise and aggression. It looked like a routine upset was on the cards as he stepped up to serve for the match at 5-4 in the third set.
What followed next was unprecedented.
The Photographer Incident: A Turning Point
At match point, Bonzi faulted on his first serve. As he prepared for the second, a photographer crossed onto the court, prompting chair umpire Greg Allensworth to halt play and- in a rare decision- allow Bonzi to retake his first serve.
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Medvedev was livid.
“Are you a man? Why are you shaking?” he shouted at the umpire, accusing him of favoritism and claiming the interruption unfairly benefited Bonzi. The crowd, mostly backing Medvedev, erupted with boos- not at the Russian, but at the official and Bonzi. The match was delayed for nearly six minutes as tension boiled over.
Daniil Medvedev was visibly upset after a camera person walked on the court at match point. pic.twitter.com/5wnVf2GSFm
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2025
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Medvedev’s Comeback and Bonzi’s Collapse
Galvanized by the crowd and his own anger, Medvedev clawed his way back. He broke Bonzi to level the third set, won a dramatic tiebreaker, and then handed the Frenchman a bagel in the fourth set, 6-0.
At that point, it appeared Medvedev had flipped the script entirely. Bonzi, visibly shaken and later requiring a medical timeout for a leg issue, seemed out of fuel.
But this story had one more twist.
Bonzi’s Grit Seals the Upset
The fifth set was a dogfight. Medvedev broke early, but Bonzi broke back. The Frenchman saved five break points at 3-3, showing iron nerves and refusing to buckle. Then, at 5-4, Bonzi broke Medvedev one final time- completing the upset and collapsing to the court in disbelief.
“It was a crazy atmosphere,” Bonzi said after the match. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. We waited five minutes before match point. It was so noisy, so wild. I tried to stay calm. I gave all my heart, and I got the win.”
Daniil Medvedev looking totally distraught after his loss to Bonzi at the U.S. open.
He’s smashing his racquet and just sitting on the court.
Brutal loss to swallow.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 25, 2025
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Daniil Medvedev’s Meltdown and Slam Slump
For Medvedev, the defeat was more than just a loss- it was a symbolic crash of what has been a disastrous Grand Slam season.
After shaking hands, the 2021 US Open champion threw six rackets into the stands and then smashed another repeatedly into the bench, cutting his hand in the process. The outburst drew condemnation from commentators, with one calling the scene “carnage.”
Medvedev has now lost in the first round of three consecutive Slams and hasn’t advanced past the second round in any major this year. The Russian’s lone Slam win in 2025 came at the Australian Open’s opening round, followed by a five-set loss to 19-year-old Learner Tien. He also fell in the first round of Roland Garros to Cameron Norrie and to Bonzi again at Wimbledon.
“I’m playing bad- and in important moments, even worse,” Medvedev admitted. “Serve, return, volley, everything. I just need to play better, and I’ll try next year.”
Also Read: Why Is Daniil Medvedev Always Angry On Court
Fallout and Aftermath
The United States Tennis Association confirmed that the photographer involved in the interruption had his credential revoked and was escorted off court by security. The incident will likely prompt tighter regulation of photographer access for the remainder of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Bonzi moves on to the second round, earning one of the biggest wins of his career and giving a dream start to his new player-coach partnership with Mahut.
“It’s our first Grand Slam together,” Bonzi said. “This win means a lot.”
Medvedev’s Poor Show Continues
Medvedev has lost five of eight matches since the Halle final. No titles since may 2023. He will end the US Open well outside the top 20 in the ATP Race. He has had a horrendous grand slam season this year (R2, R1, R1, R1). He is se to will leave the top 15.
