In a jaw-dropping moment that could change the course of a match, Daniil Medvedev—the former US Open champion—was teetering on the edge of an unexpected exit from the tournament. Facing Benjamin Bonzi, he found himself staring down the barrel of a third consecutive first-round Grand Slam elimination, which would be his first in New York since he made his debut in 2017.

The tension was palpable as Medvedev appeared visibly rattled; a double fault in the crucial ninth game of the third set handed Bonzi match point. But just when it seemed the underdog was about to secure a significant victory, chaos erupted on the court. As Bonzi prepared to serve on match point, a cameraman inadvertently wandered onto the court, prompting chair umpire Greg Allensworth to call a halt to play.

The decision sent shockwaves through the stadium. Medvedev, visibly infuriated, stormed towards the umpire, demanding to know if he was even capable of making sound judgments. “Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking? What’s wrong, huh?” he shouted, his frustration boiling over as he drew the crowd's attention, urging them to jeer at the official. His antics ignited a chorus of boos from the stands, transforming the atmosphere into one of utter disarray.

As the altercation continued, Bonzi stood his ground, refusing to serve until the crowd calmed down. Meanwhile, Medvedev, trying to play to the audience, made heart gestures and blew kisses—a move that didn’t exactly endear him to the fans caught in the uproar. When play finally resumed, Bonzi faltered on his first serve, prompting a sarcastic cheer from the audience, clearly leaning towards the former champion. Medvedev seized the moment, leveling the third set at 5-5 with a stunning winner, and once again, he acknowledged the crowd with heart symbols.

In the ensuing tiebreaker, Medvedev showcased his tenacity, emerging victorious and pushing the match into a fourth set. The drama didn’t go unnoticed even beyond the court; Taylor Fritz, the No. 4 seed at the US Open, expressed his disbelief on social media, tweeting, “Photographer walking on court when he’s not supposed to could’ve just changed the entire match.” This incident was just one more chapter in what has been a challenging season for Medvedev, a 29-year-old athlete who once reached the zenith of the ATP rankings after back-to-back Australian Open finals in 2022 but has since faced early exits in various tournaments.