Former world No. 1 Justine Henin has launched a scathing critique of Daniil Medvedev’s antics at the 2025 US Open, stressing that the Russian’s volatile behaviour was far from an isolated incident. According to the Belgian legend, Medvedev has “gone too far” once again, adding to a pattern that she believes should no longer be overlooked.
Medvedev’s turbulent campaign ended in a five-set loss to world No. 51 Benjamin Bonzi in a match that veered from high drama to outright chaos inside Louis Armstrong Stadium. The Frenchman stunned the 2021 US Open champion with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 victory after nearly four hours of unpredictable tennis.
The flashpoint arrived late in the third set. With Bonzi holding match point at 5-4, AD-40, a bizarre interruption occurred when a photographer accidentally entered the court between serves. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth granted Bonzi a fresh first serve, citing the disturbance. What followed was pure theatre: Medvedev erupted in fury, lashed out at Allensworth, and urged the New York crowd to roar in protest. The atmosphere turned febrile, boos rang out, and play was held up for six long minutes.
When the dust finally settled, Medvedev clawed his way back, stealing the next three points to break serve before edging the tiebreak. With momentum shifting, he blitzed through the fourth set 6-0, as Bonzi began showing clear signs of fatigue. Suddenly, a comeback for the Russian looked inevitable.
But the final act flipped the script yet again. Twice in the decider, Medvedev broke serve and looked on course to complete a Houdini-style escape, only for Bonzi to claw back each time. As hand cramps crippled Medvedev’s play, Bonzi seized the moment, closing out the contest in front of a raucous crowd. The Russian’s meltdown culminated in him smashing his racket and refusing to vacate his chair, staying seated until midway through Bonzi’s victory speech.
The defeat marked a grim milestone: Medvedev’s third straight first-round exit at a Grand Slam. Once perched atop the ATP rankings, the 29-year-old has now slipped to No. 16 in the live standings, and his form appears increasingly fragile.
Henin, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, minced no words when offering her verdict. Speaking to Eurosport France, she labelled Medvedev “the most protected player on the tour” and insisted his actions are no longer excusable.
“It’s not the first time he’s gone too far, so I’m finally surprised to hear [people say] that this time, Daniil Medvedev has really gone too far,” said Henin. “We can see images of this from recent years. Some will say that there was a strategy at that moment to break the rhythm of the match, to give himself another small chance.
“He can’t manage his frustration at all anymore, it’s making him explode, it’s becoming extremely difficult for him and quite ridiculous.
“And then you have to listen to his reactions in press conferences where bad faith is present. There is no more lucidity, there is clearly no more pleasure on the court and he complains about the fine he will receive, probably much more severe than for some players.
“We’ve commented on it a lot and we’ve always said to ourselves that he is perhaps the most protected player on the tour in relation to his lapses.
“He should have been sanctioned much more severely a long time ago. And there, we will see what will happen, but it would be well deserved.”
For Henin, the issue goes beyond one heated exchange in New York. To her, Medvedev’s behaviour reflects a recurring inability to control his temper, a flaw that is eroding both his results and his reputation.