During a tense semi-final match at the US Open, Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev had a heated exchange with umpire Eva Asderaki. The incident occurred midway through the first set of his match against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Medvedev, the 28-year-old who won the US Open in 2021, was upset by Asderaki’s decision to call ‘not up’, indicating that the ball had bounced twice before he could hit it. Medvedev was chasing a drop shot from Alcaraz, but the umpire’s call awarded the contentious point to the Spaniard. This decision allowed Alcaraz to break back in the first set, which ultimately went to a tiebreak before Medvedev secured the win.
Following the unusual interaction, umpire Asderaki was seen consulting with referee Denise Parnell and tournament supervisor Wayne McKewen, suggesting that something serious had transpired. While it is unclear what exactly was said between Medvedev and the umpire, the incident prompted significant speculation.
Reacting on BBC Sport, former tennis star Tim Henman speculated on the situation: “I am just wondering after this point if Daniil Medvedev has said something to the umpire for the supervisor to come on the court. If you use a swear word you get a code violation and a fine. But, if you verbally abuse the umpire that’s where there is a question mark. Maybe a default, but with the supervisor on court and the umpire down that doesn’t happen if something has not gone on.”
After consulting with the supervisor, umpire Asderaki issued Medvedev a warning before play resumed. According to the Grand Slam handbook, “players shall not at any time directly or indirectly verbally abuse any official.”
Medvedev, facing the 21-year-old defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, managed to regain his composure and continue the match despite the controversial incident.
This incident highlights the intense emotions and high stakes present in Grand Slam tournaments, where players are under immense pressure to perform at their best while adhering to strict conduct guidelines.
