WATCH: Daniil Medvedev melts down at US Open while his wife walks off

CapeTalk's Clarence Ford speaks to Barbara Friedman about trending online stories.

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The 2025 US Open kicked off on Sunday, 24 August, and it's already proving turbulent for former champion Daniil Medvedev.

On Monday, the 2021 champion suffered a shocking first-round exit at the hands of France’s Benjamin Bonzi, an upset made even more dramatic by a heated outburst from Medvedev that delayed the match for six minutes.

The incident unfolded when the umpire granted Bonzi a second serve following an on-court disruption by a photographer, in accordance with tournament rules. Visibly enraged, Medvedev confronted the umpire, allegedly asking, “Are you a man?” and appeared to incite the crowd in frustration.

Tensions peaked when the Russian star returned to his bench and violently smashed his racket, reducing it to pieces. The emotional moment was caught on camera, including a shot of Medvedev’s wife, Daria Medvedeva, cradling her head in her hands before walking away from her front-row seat.

Bonzi capitalised on the moment and went on to win the match, while Medvedev’s meltdown quickly became a talking point online. Some are calling it his 'biggest meltdown to date'.

The loss marks a continuation of a disappointing run for Medvedev, who entered the tournament following early exits at all three previous Grand Slam events this year.

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