Daniil Medvedev has revealed that he is \u201cglad\u201d he did not win his controversial 2025 US Open clash against Benjamin Bonzi after opening up about the contest in a new interview.<\/p>\n
Former world No 1 and 2021 US Open champion Medvedev<\/a> was beaten 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 by Frenchman Bonzi<\/a> in the opening round of the event this year, though the scoreline only tells half of the story<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bonzi looked in full control throughout the first two and a half sets and held a match point when serving for victory at 5-4 up in set three.<\/p>\n After missing a first serve, a courtside photographer bizarrely entered the field of play in an apparent attempt to exit the court.<\/p>\n This led to umpire Greg Allensworth re-awarding Bonzi a first serve on his match point \u2014 attracting huge protest from Medvedev.<\/p>\n Play was disrupted for seven minutes as the former world No 1 remonstrated with Allensworth, with a raucous crowd quickly taking the Russian\u2019s side.<\/p>\n Seemingly spurred on by the incident, Medvedev eventually saved the match point when play resumed and ultimately forced a fourth and fifth set.<\/p>\n The crowd proved troublesome at points throughout the rest of the contest, with some appearing to jeer Bonzi despite the Frenchman not being involved in the initial incident.<\/p>\n Tennis News<\/p>\n Elena Rybakina reveals \u2018most concerning issues\u2019 that \u2018can\u2019t be resolved quickly\u2019 as she gives calendar update<\/a><\/p>\n Marcos Baghdatis picks between Djokovic, Nadal & Federer as he reveals his toughest opponent<\/a><\/p>\n Medvedev has famously had a love-hate relationship with the crowd in New York, often orchestrating them to his tune.<\/p>\n However, speaking in a new interview with Sofya Tartakova and Bolshe Tennis<\/a>, the former world No 1 revealed he found himself unable to control the crowd at times during this match.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI couldn\u2019t do it, because at one point I wanted to say: \u2018OK, let us play.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI saw it was too much for the opponent [Bonzi]. I tried to calm them, but I couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Tartakova then added to Medvedev: \u201cYou hyped them up too well.\u201d<\/p>\n Medvedev then responded: \u201cExactly, and then I couldn\u2019t calm them down. But it was a cooling feeling because I just didn\u2019t even expect it.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, in that moment, the umpire\u2019s decision was wrong, and the fact that the crowd also supported me in this. I went to the umpire also because of the crowd, among other things, because right after this decision, they started to shout, like: \u2018Why the first serve?\u2019 It was an unusual and interesting experience.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was similar to when you play your best tennis, and very often the crowd is on your side, no matter where you\u2019re playing and what is happening.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd, in this case, it was similar to that. Because of it, I was able to play much better and almost win the match.\u201d<\/p>\n Medvedev ultimately came very close to winning the match following the controversy, only to fade physically in the close stages of the match.<\/p>\n