Daniil Medevedev lost his cool in a rather tense match against Kasidit Samrej in the first round of the Australian Open 2025.
Daniil Medvedev was livid (via CNN)
Daniil Medvedev‘s first-round match at the Australian Open 2025 was a rollercoaster ride against Thai wildcard Kasidit Samrej. Medvedev, the three-time finalist, encountered an unexpected challenge, losing the second and third sets to trail two sets to one.
The match was marked by Medvedev’s frustration and outbursts, culminating in a shocking incident where he even smashed his racket into the net. This led to damages on both his racket and a camera. The spectators at Rod Laver Arena reacted with boos, and Medvedev received a warning. Despite the setback, Medvedev managed to regain his composure and eventually secured a win in five sets.
During the press conference, Daniil Medvedev also addressed the incident involving him breaking his racquet against the camera on the net. He acknowledged the potential repercussions of this action and dealt with the issue in a composed and humorous manner.
Ending his 2024 season with a world ranking of No. 5, Daniil Medvedev began his 2025 season at the Australian Open. The racket smashing incident occurred after he lost in the third set of the first round match. He eventually won the match with a scoreline of 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
The match earned Samrej admiration for his fearless performance. Pushing a top player to five sets in a Grand Slam is a significant achievement for someone ranked outside the Top 400.
What I have to say is that the camera was very, very strong because my racquet didn’t handle the damage but the camera did. It broke down but there was not one piece going out from the camera, very strong. I was very surprised because when I did it I didn’t want to smash the racquet in pieces and when I saw the racquet I was like, ‘Okay, time to take a new one, I guess’
Daniil Medvedev via Australian Open Press Conference
This is not the first time the Russian has broken his racket in a match. The former US Open champion has smashed his racket out of frustration in previous tournaments like the US Open, Australian Open, Rod Laver Cup and the Tokyo Olympics.
Daniil Medvedev will next face 19-year-old American qualifier Learner Tien in the second round of the Australian Open 2025. This match is scheduled to take place on 16th January 2025.
