(Video) Daniil Medvedev’s Bizarre Tongue Gesture in Chaotic US Open Match Against Benjamin Bonzi Goes Viral

While Daniil Medvedev failed to reach a third round of a Grand Slam tournament this year, Benjamin Bonzi will be hoping to make a deep run in a Major for the first time.

(Video) Daniil Medvedev’s Bizarre Tongue Gesture in Chaotic US Open Match Against Benjamin Bonzi Goes Viral

Daniil Medvedev's gesture during his US Open first-round match against Benjamin Bonzi (Image via X/Jose Moron, ATP Tour en Espanol)

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Chaos ensued when a cameraman inadvertently interrupted the match when Benjamin Bonzi was serving for the match against Daniil Medvedev in the first round of the US Open held on Sunday (August 24). Bonzi was awarded a first serve, and this frustrated Medvedev, who started to argue with the chair umpire.

A chorus of boos erupted from the crowd inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, stopping Bonzi from serving for six straight minutes. Thanks to the crowd’s support, the Russian ended the third set in his favor and capitalized on the momentum by bageling the World No.51 in the fourth set, but he eventually lost the fifth set and the match.

But prior to this incident, another conduct of Medvedev has been making headlines. At the end of the second set, Medvedev, after conceding a break point, seemingly mocked Bonzi’s fist pump celebration and followed it with a bizarre tongue gesture.

Watch the video here:

Bonzi will be meeting home favorite Marcos Giron, whom he will be facing for the first time in his career. The Frenchman has never reached the fourth round of the US Open, rather the fourth round of any Grand Slam tournament for that matter.

Against Medvedev, Bonzi has improved his head-to-head lead to 3-0. A surprising thing about their matchups is this – they have met only in the first rounds of Grand Slam events.

Medvedev last clinched a title at the Italian Open. This year, he has played just one final- at the Halle Open, which he lost to Alexander Bublik. The former World No.1 has failed to reach the third round of a Grand Slam event this season. Learner Tien knocked him out in the second round of the Australian Open, while in the next three Majors, he suffered first-round exits.

The last time Medvedev reached a Grand Slam final was at the 2024 Australian Open, where he squandered a two-set lead before losing in five sets to World No.1 Jannik Sinner. Medvedev has so far played six Grand Slam finals, winning only the 2021 US Open by beating Novak Djokovic. Except for his Australian Open clash with Sinner, Medvedev’s Grand Slam defeats came at the hands of Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Benjamin Bonzi on the controversy during his match against Daniil Medvedev

Benjamin Bonzi, at the press conference, called his clash with Daniil Medvedev the best match of his career. He also suggested that no one was at fault and that the chair umpire only gave his decision according to the rules.

Benjamin Bonzi (2)
Benjamin Bonzi (Image via X/US Open Tennis)

The rules are the rules; they are there and must be followed. Daniil went to talk to the judge between serves; it is not up to me to say when it is a first serve and when it is a second serve.

Last year at the US Open, Bonzi failed to progress to the main draw. Medvedev lost to eventual winner Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals.

That moment started everything. Daniil initiated it; he set the stage to later drive the crowd crazy. He completely went with them. Honestly, I had never seen anything like it in my life, maybe in a football stadium, but not in a tennis one.

Benjamin Bonzi added

If Bonzi reaches the third round, he will lock horns with Arthur Rinderknech or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Bonzi is projected to face five-time Grand Slam champion and the 2022 US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

Medvedev is expected to participate in the ATP 500 China Open, which is scheduled to take place at the end of September. Apart from the Halle Open this year, Medvedev could book a spot in just one semifinal- at the Indian Wells Masters, which he lost to eventual runner-up Holger Rune.

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