Daniil Medvedev Breaks Camera in Frustration but Survives First-Round Scare at Australian Open
Daniil Medvedev’s Frustrating Start at the Australian Open
Daniil Medvedev, the No. 5 seed and 2021 US Open champion, faced a rocky beginning to his Australian Open campaign against Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej, ranked 418th. In a match filled with tension, Medvedev’s frustration peaked when he smashed a net camera after losing a pivotal rally in the third set.
A Battle of Nerves
Medvedev found himself in an unexpected struggle as Samrej, a wildcard entry making his Grand Slam debut, put up a strong fight. The turning point came during a 13-stroke rally where a shot clipped the net, causing Medvedev to lose his footing and ultimately the point. In a moment of anger, he struck the net five times with his racket, resulting in a code violation for racket abuse and leaving the camera in ruins.
A Close Call
Trailing after the third set, Medvedev was on the brink of a shocking first-round exit. Samrej, aiming for a historic upset, sought to become the lowest-ranked player to defeat a top-five seed in a Grand Slam since the ATP rankings began in 1973. However, despite his valiant effort, physical issues hampered Samrej’s performance as Medvedev rallied back to win the match 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
The Comeback Kid
After dropping the third set, Medvedev regained his composure, winning 12 of the last 15 games and finishing the match with 24 aces and significantly fewer unforced errors than Samrej—34 to 69. Reflecting on his performance, Medvedev humorously noted, “In the end of last year, this match, I probably would have lost it. New year, new energy.”
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