Daniil Medvedev Eliminated from US Open After Disruptive Photographer Incident

Daniil Medvedev's 2025 US Open campaign ended in a dramatic five-set match against Benjamin Bonzi, which saw a controversial incident involving a photographer's flash. The disruption occurred during a critical moment in the match when Medvedev was preparing for his second serve at match point. The flash from a photographer reportedly caused Medvedev to lose focus, leading to a fault on his second serve and Bonzi eventually winning the point.

The match, which had already been closely contested, ended with a final score of 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 in Bonzi's favor. Medvedev expressed his frustration with the umpire regarding the interference but was unable to recover after the disruption, losing the match in the decisive fifth set.

The incident has sparked discussion about the role of photographers during key moments in tennis matches. Some argue that the flash significantly affected Medvedev’s concentration, while others believe distractions are an inherent part of competitive sports.

With the tournament's organizers expected to review the situation, there may be further discussions about media conduct during critical stages of play. Despite the disappointment, Medvedev acknowledged the importance of staying focused, even in the face of unexpected disruptions.

Sources: BBC Sport, CNN, Al Jazeera