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On Monday, August 25, former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev suffered a shocking first round exit from the ongoing Grand Slam tournament. The 2021 champion went down against his French opponent Benjamin Bonzi 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-0, 4-6 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The neck-and-neck battle which lasted for three hours and 45 minutes, saw the 13th seeded Russian go down in a late night clash. With the Frenchman taking the first set by 6-3 margin, Medvedev gave a tough fight in the second set but it was Bonzi who finally took a 2-0 lead with the scoreline 6-3, 7-5.
Benjamin Bonzi to take on US’s Marcos Giron in the Round of 64 at US Open 2025
The gave got intense in the third set as Bonzi served at advantage on match point, leading 5-4. But after faulting on his first serve, the chair umpire quickly halted the play as a photographer mistakenly walked on the court, leaving the Russian also visibly frustrated.
With key moments during the Round of 128 clash between the two, the French international finally reigned victorious, making his way in the second round. Bonzi will next take on US’s Marcos Giron in the Round of 64.
Speaking after the first round win at the US Open 2025, Bonzi said, “It was crazy. I may have gained some new fans but also some new non-fans. The energy was wild. Thanks to all those who were booing, it gave me energy in the fifth.” The 29-year-old also admintted that he lost composure during the third set, adding, “I never experienced something like that. Maybe we wait five minutes before the match point, and it was so difficult to play.”
