Daniil Medvedev's all-time most villainous moment

September 2024 · 7 minute read

Footage has re-emerged of Australian Open villain Daniil Medvedev taunting American fans by ripping a towel away from a ballboy, throwing his racket at the umpire and flipping off the crowd.

The Russian has become public enemy no.1 after saying Aussie supporters have a 'low IQ', mocking officials and saying the reception he received had destroyed his love for tennis.

However, footage from the third round of the 2019 US Open shows Medvedev at his anarchist worst, clashing with ballboys, the umpire and the audience before unleashing in his post match press conference.

'Thank you all you guys, because your energy tonight gave me the win,' he said as he closed his eyes and raised his arms to the crowd at Flushing Meadows.

'If you weren't here I probably would've lost, I was so tired, I was cramping yesterday, it was so tough to play. 

'But I want all of you to know when you sleep tonight, I won - because of you.'

Footage has re-emerged of Daniil Medvedev flipping off and taunting the US Open crowd in 2019 - after he claimed the behaviour of Aussies has ruined his love for tennis

Footage has re-emerged of Daniil Medvedev flipping off and taunting the US Open crowd in 2019 - after he claimed the behaviour of Aussies has ruined his love for tennis

Medvedev rips a towel away from a terrified ballboy during his third round match at the 2019 grand slam in New York

Medvedev rips a towel away from a terrified ballboy during his third round match at the 2019 grand slam in New York

Footage from the match against Feliciano Lopez shows Medvedev melting down after the crowd turned on him due to his on-court behaviour.

The Russian responded poorly to the animosity, as he did repeatedly on Rod Laver Arena in 2022, before he ripped away a towel from a ballboy and screamed in his direction.

Moments later Medvedev throws his racket in the direction of the chair umpire, before flipping off the booing crowd as he walked back to his chair.

Speaking on court after the match, the Russian athlete continued to stoke the flames, responding to every question by winding up the hostile crowd. 

'The only thing I can say is the energy you're giving me right now guys, it wil be enough for the next five matches,' he taunted.

'The more you do this, the more I'll win for you guys.'

Medvedev taunts the crowd after beating Feliciano Lopez in 2019

Medvedev taunts the crowd after beating Feliciano Lopez in 2019

He threw his racket and repeatedly argued with the umpire during the controversial clash

He threw his racket and repeatedly argued with the umpire during the controversial clash

The behaviour is in stark contrast to his emotional post Australian Open final interview where he claimed the treatment of Aussie fans had ruined his childhood dreams. 

'I'm just talking about few moments where the kid stopped dreaming, and today was one of them. I'm not going to really tell why,' he said.

'I'm going to say it like this. If there is a tournament on hard courts in Moscow, before Roland Garros or Wimbledon, I'm going to go there even if I miss the Wimbledon or Roland Garros or whatever.

'The kid stopped dreaming. The kid is going to play for himself. That's it. That's my story.'

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

Medvedev then doubled down on the extraordinary stance, complaining again about the behaviour of the crowd and said it would be 'tough' to continue playing tennis in the future.  

'I'm just going to give one small example. Before Rafa serves even in the fifth set, there would be somebody, and I would even be surprised, like one guy screaming, 'C'mon, Daniil',' he said.

Medvedev clashed with the crowd throughout the game after becoming infuriated when they cheered his unforced errors

Medvedev clashed with the crowd throughout the game after becoming infuriated when they cheered his unforced errors

In an emotional press conference after the match Medvedev claimed the lack of support had ruined his childhood dreams

In an emotional press conference after the match Medvedev claimed the lack of support had ruined his childhood dreams

'A thousand people would be like, 'Tsss, tsss, tsss'. That sound. Before my serve, I didn't hear it. It's disappointing. It's disrespectful, it's disappointing. I'm not sure after 30 years I'm going to want to play tennis.

'Again, the kid that was dreaming is not anymore in me after today. It will be tougher to continue tennis when it's like this.'

The jeering started during his second round match with Kyrgios, where the crowd were repeating Cristiano Ronaldo's trademark 'Siu' celebration back to the Aussie, which Medvedev confused for boos.

In a prickly post match interview with Courier, the Russian accused the crowd of being disrespectful as the respected commentator attempted to explain the chant to him, but the damage was done.

He would face a hostile crowd for the remainder of the competition, a factor that took an evident toll on the 25-year-old.      

Medvedev, who had a running battle with the Melbourne crowd since first suggesting they have a 'low IQ' during his match with home favourite Nick Kyrgios, repeatedly argued with the umpire over supporters screaming before serves.

Daniil Medvedev rolls his eyes at Tennis Australia chair Jayne Hrdlicka after she praised him in the post match presentation

Daniil Medvedev rolls his eyes at Tennis Australia chair Jayne Hrdlicka after she praised him in the post match presentation

Daniil Medvedev has made himself public enemy no.1 in Australia after a drama-packed Australian Open final saw him clash with the umpire and crowd

Daniil Medvedev has made himself public enemy no.1 in Australia after a drama-packed Australian Open final saw him clash with the umpire and crowd

The normally cool Russian lost it several times throughout the tournament, gesturing to the cheering crowd when committing unforced errors.

'He doesn't like when they cheer unforced errors,' Jim Courier said on Channel 9.

'He is not happy and the crowd are at him.'   

The Russian star's dummy spit came when he was up 4-3 in the third set on Sunday night, and up by two sets - only to lose the next three straight games and let Nadal back in. 

Medvedev blew up in a petty complaint about the ballkids not having enough tennis balls to provide him, which was impacting his flow.

Medvedev melted down after asking the ball kids to exchange balls, with the umpire reprimanding the Russian for time wasting

Medvedev melted down after asking the ball kids to exchange balls, with the umpire reprimanding the Russian for time wasting

The Russian then mouthed 'boring' before continuing to mutter under his breath as officials praised the 25-year-old for his efforts in the Australian Open final

The Russian then mouthed 'boring' before continuing to mutter under his breath as officials praised the 25-year-old for his efforts in the Australian Open final

'Are they not allowed to pass the ball to one another?' he shouted at the umpire, John Blom

'They don't have to do the circle around the court — they can just pass the one ball to another.

Blom explained: 'They only have one way they were told to do it. If you want them at the same side, the number of balls, I'll talk to them.'

The Russian athlete continued: 'Two and two, and they can pass to each other. It doesn't have to be in the middle.'   

This wasn't the only time Medvedev was heavily criticised for his conduct during the Australian Open, and it continued after the match was over.

During the presentation ceremony, Tennis Australia chair Jayne Hrdlicka paid tribute to the 25-year-old runner up, who was given another tough night by the raucous crowd strongly behind the Spaniard. 

'Daniil, you have had the most extraordinary tournament. You have found yourself in tough spots on the way here. You have demonstrated you're never finished and you were never finished until the very last point. Congratulations on a great tournament,' she said.

Medvedev winds up the crowd after hitting a winner against Rafael Nadal on Sunday night

Medvedev winds up the crowd after hitting a winner against Rafael Nadal on Sunday night

Ms Hrdlicka then noted the Russian was already a grand slam champion and that she was sure he would claim his second title soon, as Medvedev rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath.

'You were clearly determined to boot history in the making for the second time in a row and that didn't happen tonight, but there is no doubt that we are going the see you back here and that you are on your way to making your own records in the tennis history books,' the TA chair said as the Russian mouthed 'boring'.

The 25-year-old continued to say something indiscernible as she continued with her speech, before taking the microphone himself.     

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWJ%2BcYCUcW1pcV95rq%2B1yKVkhp2Uq7KlsdWsZK2hnZp6t7XLpZiipp%2BqwG65zqacp6xencGuuA%3D%3D