Daniil Medvedev Clarifies Reilly Opelka’s Reference During his Dramatic US Open First Round Against Benjamin Bonzi

Daniil Medvedev believes he will get a huge fine for his conduct during his loss to Benjamin Bonzi at the US Open.

Daniil Medvedev Clarifies Reilly Opelka’s Reference During his Dramatic US Open First Round Against Benjamin Bonzi

Daniil Medvedev and Reilly Opelka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter/Danny)

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Daniil Medvedev has clarified why he mentioned American star Reilly Opelka in his row with the umpire Greg Allensworth during the first round clash against Benjamin Bonzi at the US Open. The 29-year-old flamed a tense scene at the Louise Armstrong Stadium in New York before eventually falling to Bonzi in five sets.

Bonzi was set to serve for the match while leading 6-3, 7-5, 5-4 (40/30) before a photographer mistakenly walked onto the court as he wanted to get to the other side of the photographer’s pit to get a good position. That disrupted the Frenchman’s flow, and umpire Allensworth awarded him a first serve, but the crowd, who were on Medvedev’s side, were not happy with it.

That sparked an outburst from Medvedev to the umpire. The Russian ace repeatedly shouted to Allensworth: “What did Reilly Opelka say?,” while grabbing the umpire chair. Medvedev was referring to Opelka’s comment at the Dallas Open in February, when he said that Allensworth was the worst umpire in the ATP and then was fined $5,000.

Opelka had received a code violation in Dallas for confronting a spectator during his win over Cameron Norrie in the round of 16. He had suggested that a spectator, who was constantly coughing, be removed as he was disrupting his flow on the court, but Allensworth awarded him a code violation for his outburst.

Nonetheless, after Medvedev clashed with the umpire, he went on to lose to Bonzi. When asked why he referenced Opelka during his outburst with Allensworth, he claimed that if he speaks, he will be heavily fined.

I’m getting a big enough fine so if I speak I’m in big trouble so I’m not gonna speak. Not everyone knows what I’m talking about when I said Reilly. Reilly got fined big time for this, so I’m gonna get a big fine too.

This isn’t the first time that umpire Allensworth has gotten himself into a controversial circumstance. Andy Murray was furious with him at the 2024 Geneva Open when he forced his match to continue despite a heavy downpour. Additionally, in August last year, he awarded a point to Jack Draper, despite Felix Auger-Aliassime‘s argument that the ball had hit the frame of the Briton’s racket and then the floor before going over the net.

Daniil Medvedev doesn’t know how much he will be fined by the US Open chiefs

Medvedev was fined a total of $76,000 for camera and racket smashing at the Australian Open in January. The former World No.1 destroyed a net camera after furiously hitting his racket into it during his first round against Kasidit Samrej. He then threw his racket and didn’t attend a mandatory post-match press conference after losing to Learner Tien in the second round.

Daniil Medvedev Washington Open 2025
Daniil Medvedev (image via Getty)

At the US Open, he’s set to be fined for his conduct in the first round against Benjamin Bonzi. However, when asked how much he thinks he will be fined by the organizers, he admitted he doesn’t know yet.

I have no idea they fine guys like me much more than other guys… Kyrgios, me, Bublik, who else? Reilly. Even if Reilly’s a nice guy and they fine him just because they don’t like him.

Medvedev has won only one Grand Slam match this season. The Russian star has not gone beyond the first round of a major since the French Open, where he lost to Cameron Norrie. At Wimbledon, the 29-year-old fell to Bonzi in four sets before losing to the Frenchman again on Sunday (August 24) at the US Open.

Also read: Emma Raducanu Embraces the Controversial US Open Mixed Doubles Format Amid Partnership With Carlos Alcaraz