You watched Daniil Medvedev toss six racquets into the stands Sunday night, and we all knew what it meant. The former world No. 1 had just blown up spectacularly against Benjamin Bonzi at the US Open 2025, losing 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 in a match that turned into pure theater.
This wasn’t a normal loss; it marked rock bottom for a player who used to own these moments.
Here’s what stings most: Daniil Medvedev vs Benjamin Bonzi wasn’t supposed to be a rivalry. Yet Bonzi has now taken down the Russian twice at majors this year, including their meeting at Wimbledon.
When you pile up just one Grand Slam win all year against world No. 418 Kasidit Samrej in Melbourne, you know something’s broken. The 2021 US Open champion has gone from finalist material to first-week fodder, and Sunday’s chaos on Louis Armstrong Stadium drove that point home.
Table of Contents
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s break down why Medvedev needs our attention, even in defeat. The man who reached at least one Grand Slam final every year from 2021 to 2024 has completely fallen off the map. We’re talking about a player who pushed Novak Djokovic to five sets in the 2023 US Open final, took down Djokovic to win his maiden major here in 2021, and reached six major finals overall.
Now, he’s serving up 64 unforced errors in a single match. That’s not a typo, 64 times Medvedev beat himself Sunday night. Compare that to his 2021 championship run, where he averaged just 28 unforced errors per match.
What’s eating at him? Since reaching the Australian Open final in 2024, where he fell to Jannik Sinner despite leading two sets to love, Medvedev has won just four matches at majors. He’s gone from Mr. Consistency to Mr. Early Exit, and the frustration boils over every time he steps on the court.
When Chaos Took Over Louis Armstrong
You had to see it to believe it. Bonzi stood ready to serve out the match at 5-4, 40-30 in the third set when pandemonium broke loose. A photographer dashed onto the court—not beside it, but actually on the playing surface, trying to reach his position.
Chair umpire Greg Allensworth gave Bonzi another first serve, and that’s when Medvedev lost it.
The Russian sprinted toward the umpire’s chair, arms waving like a conductor gone mad. Then he turned to the crowd and basically said, “Make some noise.” And boy, did they deliver. For five minutes, Louis Armstrong Stadium turned into a house party nobody could control.
Even Medvedev realized things had spiraled out of hand. He started making calm-down gestures, trying to put the genie back in the bottle. But once you fire up 20,000 New Yorkers, good luck turning down the volume.
When play resumed, every Bonzi fault triggered earthquake-level roars. Medvedev fed off the energy, breaking back to 5-5 and eventually taking the set in a tie-break. He made heart symbols with his hands—the same guy who once played the villain here, now begging for love. The crowd ate it up.
The Collapse We Should’ve Seen Coming
After steamrolling through the fourth set 6-0, you figured Medvedev had turned the corner. He broke immediately in the fifth, and we thought, “Here comes the comeback.” Not so fast.
Bonzi, nursing a leg injury and serving at reduced speed, still found ways to hang tough. He broke right back, then did it again at 3-3. The Frenchman saved five break points at 3-4, showing the kind of grit that wins you matches when your opponent’s melting down.
Meanwhile, Medvedev kept beating himself. Double faults at crucial moments. Backhands sailing long when he needed them most. The same shots that won him 20 tour titles suddenly betrayed him. His body language screamed defeat long before Bonzi clinched the final point.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
We need to talk about what this means for tennis. Medvedev represented the bridge generation, the guys who could challenge the Big Three while holding off the young guns. Now he’s getting bounced by players ranked outside the top 50, twice by the same opponent at consecutive majors.
His Indian Wells semifinal and Halle final this year prove he’s not completely out of gas. But Grand Slams reveal who you really are, and right now, Medvedev looks lost. The mental fortitude that carried him through five-setters against Rafael Nadal and Djokovic has vanished.
Last Words
Daniil Medvedev at the US Open 2025 gave us everything except quality tennis. Benjamin Bonzi deserved this win; he stayed composed when chaos erupted and capitalized when it mattered. But watching Medvedev implode reminds us how quickly champions can fall apart.
Those six racquets he gifted to fans? They symbolize more than frustration. They represent a player saying goodbye to the version of himself that once ruled these courts.
The Daniil Medvedev vs Benjamin Bonzi rivalry nobody expected has become the story nobody saw coming. At 29, Medvedev should be in his prime. Instead, we’re witnessing a career at the crossroads, and Sunday’s meltdown might be the moment everything changed.
Stay tuned with Sports Dribble and its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts for updates!
My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.
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