Daniil Medvedev accidentally struck himself when he chucked his racket in frustration.
The world No. 5 went down an early break in the final set of his match against Alexei Popyrin and tempers flared.
He launched his racket metres into the air inside the Accor Arena and later smashed it on the floor. And he wasn’t the only one who felt the pressure in the tight three-setter as Popyrin then went on a sweary rant during a crucial game.
Medvedev did well to keep his emotions in check during a tough opening match at the Paris Masters. The Russian blew a break lead to lose the first set but stormed back to take the second 6-2, forcing a decider.
His serve suddenly abandoned him in the third and final set, and he hit a double fault to gift his opponent a 3-1 break lead. Medvedev’s tempers finally flared and he launched his racket into the air.
It almost reached the rafters inside the arena. When it fell back down, it struck the world No. 5, who failed to catch it.
“Goodness me, didn’t hold back at all,” Mikey Perera said on commentary. “The racket goes flying, he can’t take the catch. Well that is very high. Nearly to the jumbotron.”
Medvedev’s anger continued to bubble away as Popyrin stepped up to serve in the next game. When he sent a ball out, he slammed his racket to the ground but it remained intact.
“I don’t know if his racket is going to survive much longer,” co-commentator Gilles Muller remarked. On the very next point, the Russian gave in and went to change it.
Popyrin held on to extend his lead to 4-1 and Muller was baffled by Medvedev’s collapse. “Just tough to understand, how does this happen?” he asked.
“He was in total control, Medvedev, now all of a sudden he comes up with a game where he’s completely giving it away. Two double faults, one easy volley.
“It was similar in the first set where he was a break up and the same thing happened, all of a sudden double faults coming. It feels like he’s rushing them, he’s not taking his time.”
But the outburst of emotion seemed to do Medvedev some good. He broke back and drew level at 4-4. And it was Popyrin’s turn to let his frustrations take over after he was dragged into a lengthy game.
Facing his fourth break point, a lines judge called one of his balls out and Popyrin successfully challenged. He would have won the point if the linesperson didn’t intervene but they were forced to replay it.
“So slow and he calls it out. How can you call that ball out?! F*** that, I don’t want to play. It’s ridiculous,” the Australian screamed. “I know, there’s nothing I can do,” the umpire replied.
They resumed the game and Popyrin eventually held serve after more than 12 minutes, putting the pressure back on Medvedev. The match went down to a final set tiebreak where the drama continued.
Medvedev stormed back to draw level after going 1-4 down but his 14th double fault gave Popyrin his first match point. The Aussie only needed the one, winning 6-4 2-6 7-6(4).
