Fritz: The photographer’s entrance seriously disadvantaged Bonzi; EuroSport commentator: Medvedev deserves an Oscar

On the opening day of the US Open, the duel between Medvedev and Bonzi unexpectedly drew widespread attention.

When Medvedev was facing match point in the third set, a photographer intruded onto the court at an inopportune time. The umpire decided that this disrupted Bonzi’s serve and permitted a first serve replay, which upset the Russian player.

Medvedev said to the umpire: “Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking? What’s wrong, huh? Guys, he wants to leave. He’s paid per match, not by the hour (translation: Are you even human? Why are you trembling? What’s wrong? He wants to clock out, right? You’re paid per match, not by time, just like Opelka said!).” Then Medvedev incited the crowd to continuously boo. Seeing things getting out of control, he signaled for everyone to calm down, but the match was still paused for a full six minutes.

This incident severely disrupted Bonzi’s mindset, and the match dragged into a five-set battle. Fortunately, Bonzi eventually secured the victory.

This unexpected event immediately sparked heated debate in the tennis community. American player Fritz was quick to share his opinion on social media.

According to Fritz, Bonzi indeed deserved to have his first serve replayed, but the umpire’s decision backfired.

Fritz analyzed in detail: “The timeout was a disadvantage for Bonzi. He had to wait so long at match point, and then the crowd started attacking him wildly. Unless he could deliver an outstanding first serve next, winning a free point, the entire match was really tough for him.”

He pinpointed the core issue: “If he hadn’t been granted a first serve replay, the pause wouldn’t have happened. If the photographer hadn’t rushed onto the court, the match would have proceeded normally, which caused that crazy delay. Honestly, without the photographer’s intrusion and the resulting situation, I think Bonzi’s chances of holding that game were much higher.”

In response, a tennis fan commented under the post: “I completely agree with Fritz! That pause totally changed the match’s rhythm, and Bonzi was clearly affected. The organizers should have better controlled the on-site personnel.”

However, some netizens held different views. One typical opinion was: “Medvedev made full use of the situation; he stirred up the crowd, which helped him find his rhythm later in the match. It’s not entirely the photographer’s fault; many thought the match was about to end at that point.”

The EuroSport commentator shared the same opinion, saying during the match: “Medvedev enjoys playing the villain role, and tonight he performed that part well. His acting could truly win an Oscar. But in the end, ‘the good guy prevailed tonight’—Bonzi held his nerve and won the match.”

Whether it was the controversy caused by the photographer’s intrusion or the psychological battle between players, these elements remain an integral part of the sport, continuously captivating audiences worldwide.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)