Tennis
U.S. Open
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Updated 3m ago
The 2025 U.S. Open singles are underway at Flushing Meadows, as Jannik Sinner (1) and Aryna Sabalenka(1) look to defend their titles at the final major of the year.
Day one saw 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic (7) join Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula (4), Ben Shelton (6) and Taylor Fritz (4) in claiming straight sets first-round wins.
Then in the final match of a first opening Sunday in New York, Daniil Medvedev (13) was dumped out 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 by Benjamin Bonzi — who had looked set to win in straight sets until a photographer entered the court between his serves on match point.
Medvedev’s incitement of the crowd led to a six-minute delay and a remarkable comeback from the Russian, before Bonzi eventually won in five sets and Medvedev took it all out on his racket.
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Daniil Medvedev’s U.S. Open match vs. Benjamin Bonzi delayed after crowd refuses to be quiet
Who are you looking forward to seeing play at Flushing Meadows on Monday?
I know who heads my list… (see above)
As always, get your thoughts and comments into us with an email to live@theathletic.com — and here’s to a fantastic day two.
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So how did you guys view the end to a first Sunday at the U.S. Open? It was Benjamin Bonzi who came out on top in the end. Here are some of your thoughts…
💬 Daniel S: “Great match for drama and the sport of tennis. The library culture needs to go. This is entertainment. It’s past time the sport recognizes it.”
💬 Andy O: “That crowd was nuts. People like to complain about the Australian, French and Italian tennis supporters but it’s just as heated in NYC.”
💬 Scott B: “Disgraceful display from Medvedev in the third and then after he lost. Glad Bonzi prevailed!”
💬 Peter C: “Medvedev acted disgracefully, even after the match finished. If he had won, the tournament should have disqualified him for gross unsportsmanlike behavior and given the match to Bonzi. Medvedev should definitely get a whopping fine at the very least. And the crowd… Just awful. Tennis isn’t a blood sport. That wasn’t a rowdy New York crowd. That was a mob — and Medvedev did his best to rile them up. Disgusting.”
The words of Daniil Medvedev following his late night antics at Louis Armstrong Stadium and how the crowd reacted:
💬 “They did the work. I didn’t do anything… The crowd did what they did without me asking them too much, and it was fun to witness.”
As Charlie Eccleshare has written, Medvedev even blew kisses in the direction of chair umpire Greg Allensworth as the crowd got wild.
He also states the USTA has confirmed the photographer who stepped onto the court and altered the match has had his credential for the tournament revoked.
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Daniil Medvedev’s U.S. Open match vs. Benjamin Bonzi delayed after crowd refuses to be quiet
First Sunday done — two more to come…
As for the women’s draw, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka (1) was joined by Jasmine Paolini (7) and Jessica Pegula (4) in straight sets first-round wins.
Emma Navarro (10) and Emma Raducanu are both through too, with few shocks here either.
Although, there was a big winner — as world No. 75 Alexandra Eala shocked 14th seed Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(11) to produce arguably the shock of the opening day at Flushing Meadows.
Monday brings the first outings for Madison Keys (6), Mirra Andreeva (5), Elena Rybakina…
As well as Karolina Muchová taking on the wild card that is… Venus Williams.
It should be a superb day.
In the men’s draw, Daniil Medvedev was the only significant seed to exit — and I feel well all know why and how at this point (if not, have a scroll down).
In contrast to the 13th seed, it was safe first-round passage for the likes of Novak Djokovic (7) against Learner Tien, as well as the U.S. duo of Taylor Fritz (4) and Ben Shelton (6).
As for the Monday action, we will get to see Frances Tiafoe (17), Carlos Alcaraz (2) vs Reilly Opelka, Brit Jack Draper (5), Casper Ruud (12) and Holger Rune (11).
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Well, that was a busy old first day at the 2025 U.S. Open — and quite the dramatic end too.
So what did you miss? Well…
This tournament is notorious for its late finishes. It markets it and celebrates it.
When matches finish in the small hours of the morning and players get to sleep as the sun is rising, it’s talked about as an epic event — regardless of how bad it is for the people competing for one of the biggest prizes in their sport or any other.
They will talk to the players about it and take their opinions into consideration, but don’t have to follow them.
Other factors include the pace of play in the match that is going long and delaying the following one, the status of the match and other factors.
What does that mean? Probably some more late nights at the U.S. Open.
What a horrible Grand Slam year it has been for the 13th seed, Daniil Medvedev.
He exited both the French Open and Wimbledon in the first round — and now the same thing has happened at the U.S. Open.
And he only made the second round at the Australian Open at the start of the year.
But then given the antics today, it’s hard to feel sorry for him. Even if all of it comes from a place of massive frustration.
When asked to summarize what took place on Louis Armstrong tonight, Benjamin Bonzi was nearly speechless:
💬 “I have no idea. It was crazy. I may have got some new fans, but also some new non-fans. The energy was wild. Thanks to all the ones were who were booing. Thanks for the energy at the end in the fifth set as well. It was a crazy match.”
The Frenchman was then asked how he stayed calm during the many treacherous moments that ensued during the match:
💬 “ I never experienced something like that. We waited maybe five minutes before the match point. Then it was so difficult to play, so noisy all the time during the points, between the points. It was a very wild atmosphere but I tried to stay calm, to stay in the match, but it was not easy.
“I gave all I had, all my heart on the court, and I got the win today.”
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a match like that.
From the bungled walk by a photographer between serves on match point, to the disgraceful intimidation of a chair umpire and then inciting of a crowd from Daniil Medvedev — without any consequences either.
One seven-minute delay and loss of his match points, and Benjamin Bonzi looked dead on his feet.
Yet somehow, he’s pulled off a remarkable win — and he still gets booed by half the crowd, for something that had nothing to do with him.
Meanwhile, Medvedev is smashing his racket to pieces for a good minute or so in two separate shifts before walking off while Bonzi gives his court interview.
A wild ride and in the words of Bonzi, wild energy too.
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Daniil Medvedev just obliterated his racket in disgust after losing the match.
After the cameraman fiasco, he played some sensational tennis but his sportsmanship tonight was simply poor.
Final: Medvedev 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-0, 4-6 Bonzi
Medvedev forces Bonzi into a corner before ripping a forehand to an unreachable spot. 15-0.
This is followed by a double fault. 15-15.
A spectacular drop shot from Bonzi forces his opponent to smoke a forehand long. 30-15.
Medvedev appears to be battling a cramp in his right hand but musters a strong serve and corresponding forehand winner. 30-30.
Another forehand winner gives Medvedev game point. 40-30.
Bonzi responds with pristine lob shot, forcing Medvedev to hit a tweener from the baseline that trickles into the net. Deuce.
A backhand by Medvedev sails long. Match point again for Bonzi.
He slaps a perfect backhand that Medvedev barely gets a racket on as the ball trickles toward the sideline.
Bonzi lets out a celebratory yell, celebrates in the middle of the court as the crowd cheers and eventually heads over to his box to embrace his team.
What a way to end Day 1.
That’s right, it’s only Day 1.
Medvedev 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-0, *4-5 Bonzi
Game point from Bonzi after he rips a forehand behind Medvedev. He's rarely gone to that shot tonight.
The Frenchman follows it up with arguably his best forehand of the night, painting a shot along the line. Medvedev had nothing for that return.
Bonzi is a game away from winning this match again. Expect a strong response from Medvedev though.
Medvedev 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-0, 4-4* Bonzi
Dominant game from Medvedev there, including a couple aces as we’re all tied up once again.
Are we going to get to the point where we’re thanking that photographer for giving us this match?
No. No we’re not.
But still, we might as well enjoy it while we’ve got it. Brilliant, dogged service game from Benjamin Bonzi there — who seems to be physically restricted to just cutting the ball up from either his first or second serves now.
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Medvedev 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-0, *3-4 Bonzi
Medvedev has triple break point but Bonzi battles back, aggressively playing at the net to make it 40-30.
A rare mistake from Medvedev in the second half of the match comes at a critical point, sending a forehand long. 40-40.
Bonzi returns the favor, continuing to rely on his backhand but this time he finds the net. Advantage Medvedev.
A 17-shot rally ends with a vicious forehand from Bonzi. Deuce.
He just cannot find momentum though as he sends a backhand long. Advantage Medvedev.
Wow, now a backhand from Medvedev sails long. We’re even again.
Another shot by Medvedev sails long, this time a forehand. Advantage Bonzi.
This time, he closes out the game as a lunging forehand by Medvedev flies wide.
While the drama earlier clouded this match and certainly will in the aftermath, to an extent, this is quite the tennis match.
Medvedev 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-0, 3-3* Bonzi
What is this match …
Bonzi shows a lot of heart there to break Medvedev and get back on serve but he has a lot more work to do.
Medvedev 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-0, *3-2 Bonzi
Just when it looked like Bonzi had a bit of momentum, he loses back-to-back games and now trails in this fifth set.
There have been way too many unforced errors from the Frenchman over the last half of the match.