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Daniil Medvedev lashes out at camera amid bizarre US Open crowd antics

The 2021 US Open champion was involved in some bizarre scenes.

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Daniil Medvedev hits the camera and a fan blows a kiss to Medvedev.
Daniil Medvedev (pictured left) lashed out at the camera, before arguing with a fan who blew him a kiss (pictured right) during his win over Chris O'Connell at the US Open. (Images: Channel Nine)

Daniil Medvedev has lashed out at the camera person, before telling a crowd member to 'shut up' in his four-set victory over Aussie Chris O'Connell at the US Open. Medvedev was cruising to victory against the tenacious Aussie tennis star in their second round clash when the Aussie found another level.

Ripping his one-handed backhand and coming to the net, O'Connell put Medvedev off in the third set. O'Connell managed to take it to a tiebreak, but Medvedev managed two match points and looked to have wrapped up the contest.

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But in stunning fashion, Medvedev double faulted. O'Connell used the energy of the crowd to win four points in a row to take the third set as the clock struck midnight.

Medvedev was furious with himself and his usual antics started to creep into his game. After the set, the Russian was sitting on the bench when the camera person approached.

Cleary frustrated, Medvedev pushed the camera away in anger. Not long after, Medvedev told a member of the crowd to 'shut up'. As Medvedev waited to serve, a few members of the crowd had moved and were rushing back to their seats as it was not a change of ends at 1-1.

Medvedev was still angry about the last few points and took aim at the crowd. "Are you stupid or what?" Medvedev said.

And one of the female spectators in question running to the seat decided to blow the Russian a kiss. Medvedev's antics caught the attention of the tennis world with fans sharing a laugh at the woman for reacting to the Rusian. While others couldn't believe the scenes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Medvedev held his nerve in the fourth set to run away with the match 6-2, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2 having finished in the early hours of the morning in New York. After his win, Medvedev appeared to target a number of members in the crowd with a gesture.

During his on-court interview, Medvedev was asked about his antics and whether they help him focus. And the Russian was unsure himself. "It depends, sometimes yes. Sometimes no. You can't often know how it's going to go. It's kind of like a lottery," he said with a smile.

However, he admitted this time it did help him fire up and focus as he entered into a running battle with the crowd.

Daniil Medvedev reacts to the crowd.
Daniil Medvedev (pictured) entered into a running battle with the crowd at the US Open. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) (Mike Stobe via Getty Images)

Daniil Medvedev's history with the US Open crowd

Always an enigmatic figure, Medvedev and the US Open crowd got off to a poor start in 2019. The booing started when Medvedev snatched a towel off a ballboy and then flipped the middle finger to the crowd during the tournament’s first week.

He initially embraced the boos and encouraged them, before apologising after his win in the quarter-finals. Medvedev won the US Open in 2021 against Novak Djokovic. But it isn't the only grand slam he has encountered crowd problems.

Christopher O'Connell celebrates.
Christopher O'Connell (pictured) pushed Daniil Medvedev in a tough battle at the US Open. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) (Mike Stobe via Getty Images)

In 2022, Medvedev also entered into a running battle with the Australian Open crowd after hitting out at the bizarre crowd chats at the time.

Medvedev will now play Sebastian Baez in the third round. O'Connell wasn't able to join countrymen Alex de Minaur and Rinky Hijikata in the next round.

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