Daniil Medvedev, a three-time Australian Open finalist, faced intense criticism and boos from the Melbourne crowd during his opening round against Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej on Tuesday. The Russian player’s frustrations boiled over during the ninth game of the third set, leading to a dramatic on-court meltdown.
Trailing two sets to one against the unseeded Samrej, Medvedev smashed his racquet into the net cordon after missing a crucial passing shot, breaking both his racquet and the net camera. The incident drew immediate jeers from the audience, and Medvedev was issued a warning. Adding to the tension, the broken net camera caused a brief delay in the match.
Despite the turmoil, Samrej capitalized on the situation to secure the third set, bringing him closer to a historic upset. Medvedev, however, staged a remarkable comeback. Leveraging his signature low backhand slices and a powerful serve, he overcame the setback to win the match 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
This near-upset was one of the tournament’s most dramatic moments, as Medvedev narrowly avoided becoming the first defending runner-up to suffer a first-round exit at the Australian Open since 2004.
Elsewhere, world number four Taylor Fritz cruised through his opener with a commanding straight-sets win against fellow American Jenson Brooksby. Fritz, looking to build on his strong 2024 season, will face Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin in the next round.
Additionally, Emma Raducanu made a triumphant return to competitive tennis, defeating 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in her first match since November. The 22-year-old former U.S. Open champion is looking to regain form after battling a series of injuries.
Medvedev’s fiery outburst has sparked debates about sportsmanship, with commentators criticizing his behavior. However, his resilience in overcoming adversity has also drawn praise, setting the stage for an intense campaign ahead in Melbourne.
