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Daniil Medvedev explodes at fan in ugly scenes at Australian Open

The Russian star was livid at someone in the crowd during his first-round victory.

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Russia's Daniil Medvedev (pictured left) reacts after a point and (pictured right) Medvedev takes a drink at the Australian Open.
Russia's Daniil Medvedev (pictured) appeared to tell a member of the crowd to f**k off' in his round 1 Australian Open win. (Getty Images)

Russian star Daniil Medvedev has appeared to take aim at a crowd member who was distracting him in the final moments of his round 1 match at the Australian Open. Medvedev returned to Melbourne Park for his first match against Marcos Giron a year after his devastating loss to Rafa Nadal in the Australian Open final.

Medvedev returned to the arena where he hasn't enjoyed the best relationship with the crowd after a hostile reception at the Australian Open in 2022. This year was different as Medvedev was welcomed back with a cheer as he entered Rod Laver Arena, before he swept aside Giron 6-0, 6-1, 6-2.

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However, the Russian did become particularly perturbed with a member of the crowd in the closing moments of the match. Serving for the match at 5-2, Medvedev turned to the crowd and appeared to tell a crowd member to 'f**k off'.

Medvedev briefly chatted to the chair umpire before he was given a warning for the audible obscenity. This didn't stop the Russian who closed out the match in style.

It was an unusual move from the Russian who was only points away from winning comfortably.

"It was a very strange time to react like that," former British No.1 Tim Henman said on Eurosport commentary.

Members of the tennis world agreed, however others accused members of the crowd of taunting Medvedev.

Medvedev did appear to win over members of the crowd that stayed late on the Monday evening during his post-match interview. Commentator and former player Jim Courier came out for the on-court interview with Medvedev.

And the grand slam champ said he was thinking during the third set about who was going to conduct the interview and if it would be Courier.

"First of all, I am really happy to see you," Medvedev said. "During the match when I was leading two sets to love, I was thinking to myself, "Is Jim here?'"

Danill Medvedev to face John Millman at Aus Open

Medvedev's win sets up a tricky match with Australian John Millman. The 33-year-old twice trailed Switzerland's Marc-Andrea Huesler by a set but fought back before running away with a 6-7 (8-10), 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 6-3 win, prevailing in four hours and six minutes.

"They're the matches you want to play," Millman said. "He's one of the few guys that I've actually never played before. I love watching him play.

"It's a daunting prospect because you know that when you play against him, you have to work for every point. He gives you no points. He covers the court extremely well. He extends the rallies and that's how I'm winning my rallies.

"So it's going to be a really tough battle but I've had a couple of big matches before against some of these big players and generally speaking, I like to test myself against them."

Medvedev slammed the Australian crowd last year for having a 'low IQ' after he perceived them for booing him. However, the crowd was performing the 'siu' chant associating with Cristiano Ronaldo's football celebration.

The loudly audible chant, which was slammed from viewers on TV, also took other players by surprise. Andy Murray was another player that was confused and thought he was being booed.

with AAP

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