Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev expressed his frustration with the crowd during his match against Christopher O’Connell at the Australian Open. Medvedev, who won the match, was visibly annoyed by a group of fans in the stands.
The incident occurred when Medvedev was serving for the match at 5-1 in the third set. As he prepared to serve, he heard some fans making noise and blowing kisses. This prompted the frustrated player to turn towards the crowd and angrily tell them to “shut up.”
Medvedev’s outburst was met with mixed reactions from the crowd, with some spectators applauding his response while others booed him. Despite the distraction, Medvedev managed to maintain his composure and close out the match with a comfortable victory.
In the post-match press conference, Medvedev explained his actions, saying that he found the behavior of the fans to be disrespectful and distracting. He described their actions as “stupid” and expressed his disappointment with their lack of respect for the players on the court.
This is not the first time Medvedev has had issues with the crowd. In the past, he has been involved in heated exchanges with fans, including an incident at the US Open in 2019 where he was fined for unsportsmanlike conduct.
While Medvedev’s frustration with the crowd is understandable, some critics argue that it is part of the game and players should be able to handle distractions. However, others believe that fans should show more respect and not disrupt the players during matches.
Medvedev’s win over O’Connell secured his place in the third round of the Australian Open. He will face Serbian player Filip Krajinovic in his next match.
