Tennis Prose




Aug/17

4

Controversy! Johnson-Medvedev Grudge Match at Citi Open

 

Steve Johnson and Daniil Medvedev had a hot-tempered clash on Wednesday late night on grandstand at the Citi Open that erupted into a grudge match.

“You seldom see tennis players get really mad at each other,” a photographer who was at the match told me. “But Steve Johnson and Medvedev got into it.”

I left the Fitzgerald Tennis Center right after Tennys Sandgren defeated Nick Kyrgios and unfortunately missed all the drama between 27-year-old Johnson and the #NEXTGEN Russian, who played each other once before, last month in Eastbourne (won by the 21-year-old 63 26 63).

Here’s what happened. #34 ranked Johnson won the first set 63 and was up a break in the second set. Both players were resting on a changeover and the chair umpire called “time.” That’s when Medvedev, ATP 50, suddenly asked for a medical timeout. It took the physio three or four minutes to get to the court and a further delay ensued. Johnson was understandably irritated at Medvedev’s stall tactic which of course was designed to distract the American’s following service game.

And of course it did. Medvedev broke Johnson who then shouted across the net at the young Russian who is based in Nice, France since age seven, “Nice injury time out you piece of sh**!” – according to the photographer who was present.

Medvedev ended up winning the second set 64 to force a third set deep past midnight before a sparse crowd. There were no other matches being played.

Johnson and Medvedev battled all the way to a third set tiebreaker which was won by the Russian 7-1.

The tricky Medvedev is no stranger to controversy. Last year at the Savannah Challenger Medvedev was disqualified for his choice of words during a match against Donald Young. Leading 15-40 against Young’s serve, Medvedev sat down in his changeover chair after he thought he won the point. But the chair umpire called his shot into question, and later ruled that it had gone out after stepping down from her seat and checking the baseline where the ball landed.

Medvedev who was trailing in the first set 1-3, spoke directly to the chair umpire, who was African American, as she began climbing back up to her seat. Spectators laughed at Medvedev’s comments before he added: ‘I know that you are friends. I am sure about it.’

Keith Crossland, the tournament’s supervisor, interrupted the game to have a discussion regarding Medvedev’s actions, before deciding to give the match victory to Young, 4-1.

Also this year at Wimbledon, Medvedev was fined $14,500 for throwing coins at the chair umpire following his second-round loss against Ruben Bemelmans. Medvedev had asked for a new umpire down 5-2 in the fifth set but he had his request denied. When Medvedev lost the fifth set (6-3) and match, he suddenly grabbed his wallet, began taking out coins, and tossed them at the umpire.

This Medvedev character is something isn’t he? He just might be the second-most controversial player in tennis today, second of course to Nick Kyrgios. If Medvedev can sustain this rate of antics and shenanigans, he could take over the ATP No. 1 ranking in the Race To Be Most Controversial Man On Tour by the end of the year.

Creating drama and controversy actually seems to have no effect on Medvedev’s performance. In fact, it may ย help. After beating Johnson in Washington, Medvedev followed it up 24 hours later with a straight set beatdown of wildcard Grigor Dimitrov 64 62.

Medvedev is definitely one to keep an eye on now. I tried to do a Biofile with Daniil yesterday afternoon on the grounds. He walked by and I asked if he could do a short interview, then I suddenly realized he might be playing later in the day and he said Yes he was. I said maybe we can talk after the match and he smiled and added that he’s playing late again. I was struck by his choirboy politeness. But underneath that pleasant exterior is a cunningly clever, very interesting young man who has an above average innate sense of how to win tennis matches without any fear of bending or stretching the rules or expressing his sincere thoughts and opinions of injustice or foul play.

Daniil Medvedev is just the kind of character the sport desperately needs.

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138 comments

  • Hartt · August 4, 2017 at 1:54 pm

    Scoop, I can’t agree that Medvedev is what tennis needs. The guy is a first class jerk. Throwing coins at an umpire’s chair? Making a racist comment to an African-American umpire? This type of behaviour just is not on.

    Some time ago the ATP site had a feature about him, and he came across in that as a charming youngster. I was thinking about adding him to one of my players to watch lists. But this kind of behaviour has been going on for some time and I soon changed my mind about him.

    Surely a player does not have to act this way to be considered colourful or interesting.

  • Chazz · August 4, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    Yes, I mentioned the Medvedev-Johnson situation the other night. Medvedev is a good player, he has an especially strong serve and moves pretty well. All of the controversies are interesting because if you watch him on the court he looks either tired or bored. The announcers were even commenting on how lethargic he looked when he was losing in that match. I do agree that this was a ploy because otherwise he wouldn’t have had enough left to pull off the comeback.

  • Dan Markowitz · August 4, 2017 at 2:39 pm

    No doubt Medvedev is cunning, but against Opelks except for a couple of loud yelps by Daniel when he won big games he was well behaved. I’m not sure what the action of throwing coins at an umpire means either. Was he pelting him w them? The DY incident is ugly, but we saw Hewitt do the same thing on a much bigger stage and now Hewitt is revered? Surprised that Steve Jo reacted that way. Thought the guy was a choirboy.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2017 at 2:50 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Hartt; I disagree with the racist accusations. And it was not racist what Hewitt did either. When a black linesperson or umpire is possibly favoring the black player against a white player or non black, that white or non black player has every right to state his mind if he truly feels he is being cheated. That's not racist that's blunt honesty. People always accuse whites or racist actions why can't whites accuse blacks of racist behavior?? It's possible and it can happen and if it does the victimized player should SPEAK UP. Medvedev speaks up and I respect that a lot. You seem to think that black racism against whites in tennis is impossible.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2017 at 2:53 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Agree Chazz, it's often always a ploy to stall the match and ice the opponent and break his momentum. It happens often or perhaps way too often but it does add an extra dimension of drama to tennis and it's always interesting to see how the players police themselves.

  • Hartt · August 4, 2017 at 3:55 pm

    No, I don’t think black racism against whites in tennis is impossible. But did Hewitt or Medvedev truly believe they were being discriminated against or were they just letting off steam, trying to find someone else to blame? We don’t know what they really thought.

    Medvedev does seem to have a victim attitude. He thought the other umpire was unfair to him and tried to get her removed. When he did not succeed in that he showed his contempt by throwing coins at her chair. I am totally fed up with this guy.

  • Doug Day · August 4, 2017 at 4:12 pm

    If i create drama and controversy that helps me win doesnt that detract from the contest? We know McEnroe gained more from the negative than anyone ever has. Am i missing something? i mean i loved me some Fred Blassie but come on.

  • Duke Carnoustie · August 4, 2017 at 7:11 pm

    I’ll say this on the Hewitt/Medvedev controversies. I doubt they were racist but it’s disgusting behavior at the very least.

    To Scoop’s point, people can accuse anyone of racism now to the point that it’s a meaningless accusation. So not worth discussing but we can all say it’s in poor taste.

    At any rate, I will say based on the evidence Medvedev is a piece of shit and I will root against him. Johnson not the type of character to cuss you out unless you deserve it.

    According to Twitter, this is what Johnson said at the handshake when Medvedev tried to apologize…

    “Dont fucking apologize, don’t do it, be better than that…. fucking asshole”

  • catherine · August 4, 2017 at 7:27 pm

    Language, language….

    A couple of weeks ago in England a South African bowler was picked up by the stump mic telling a batsman to ‘**** off’ when he was slow departing. The bowler was banned for the next match.

    I think there should be stronger penalties in tennis for audible obscenities – it’s not necessary and sullies the game. These guys are not schoolboys.

  • Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 8:18 pm

    Medvedev sucks. Steve Johnson was right to tell him off. The gamesmanship is juvenile and petty, and rotten. There’s no elder statesman in Russian tennis except for Russia’s Davis cup coach Tarpishev, and Tarpishev is an oink. Sorry these guys don’t grow up.

  • Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 8:20 pm

    Medevedev seems to like to stir up the pot and take advantage. Again, very cunning and juvenile. Create an incident and take advantage and then apologize as if nothing is wrong.
    That is a d%&k move.

  • Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    In the grand scheme I’d rank gamesmanship ahead of slacking but behind doping in terms of the “unpardonable garbage that ruins the sport”. Dumb changes like occ are on the list too, as well as epic grunting.

  • Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    Blake told Hewitt in the locker room on 2001 that he heard what he said and to cut it out. Hewitt never said that again.
    You tell me.

  • Hartt · August 4, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    With the match between Sascha Zverev and Medvedev, Sascha won in SS. 6-2, 6-4 in under an hour. A player like Sascha, who is certainly not boring, but whose tennis speaks volumes, is what tennis needs, not jerks like Medvedev.

    What I found most concerning about Medvedev’s behaviour was the way he publicly questioned the integrity of the umpires. That is a very serious charge and he has done it at least twice.

  • Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    I disagree. All of that behavior, whether racist statements or telling linespeople to shove it, all of it’s bad. That’s why it’s called out. It’s certainly racist! The question is did it happen again?
    No, Hewitt never did that again. Blake would have smacked him.
    Did Safin or Rios learn their lessons when talking about women?
    Probably not. And it’s not like they are being recalled fondly today for their attitudes.

  • scoopmalinowski · August 4, 2017 at 8:42 pm

    If a black linesman was making suspect calls against Hewitt again in a major against a black player im sure Hewitt wouldve expressed his dismay and suspicion. But he was not victimized again. Perhaps his strong stand duscoueaged any official to cheat him. Fir fear of being called out. Standing up for yourself against perceived injustice is the right thing to do. I always respected how Hewitt did it. He couldve blown up and used far worse language. The fact he won that Open sort of validated his actions.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2017 at 9:09 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Not going to hate on Medvedev for this. Who knows what other veteran players have done to him in the past. We don't know what he's been through. Nick Kyrgios' brother told me Stepanek intentionally bumped into Nick at the net post on a changeover to try to intimidate the teenager. This was three or four years ago. I also respect Johnson's very militant aggressive angry response. I prefer Medvedev pulling this kind of stalling tactics over tanking or complaining to his mom "I don't want to play." So respect to Medvedev for being resourceful if unsportsmanlike. And respect to Johnson for fighting fire with fire and not self destructing or pouting about it. Change the rules or players are allowed to take advantage of the rules the way they are.

  • DarthFed · August 4, 2017 at 9:15 pm

    Sorry but it's pathetic resorting to cowardly tactics like that. Johnson had every right to cuss the little bitch out and if I'm him I'd try to make it physical. Threaten the kid, try to hit him with a serve/overhead, etc. When you pull that type of stuff you open yourself up to serious retaliation.

    And defending obvious racist comments…seriously? When do you hear black players tell a white chair ump that he is clearly friends with the white player?

  • Duke Carnoustie · August 4, 2017 at 9:51 pm

    Duke Carnoustie writes:

    Scoop are you saying that questioning the integrity of officials is good behavior? I don't care whether it's about race or nationality or any reason. There is no excuse for Medvedev to A – say that an official is rooting for another player and B – to suggest that another official has been bribed. When you lose you should accept it and not make excuses. That's the issue here with Medvedev. Something goes wrong and it's not his fault. Seriously there is nothing that Young, Bemelmans and Johnson really have in common to justify Medvedev.

  • Duke Carnoustie · August 4, 2017 at 9:52 pm

    Duke Carnoustie writes:

    I mean that's a great lesson to teach here – when you lose, blame the chair umpire. Ridiculous.

  • Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Ok, I think we all know there wasn't any favoritism in this era of spotshot. That makes Medvedev a class A jerk. The fines that will rain down on him will prove it.

  • scoopmalinowski · August 4, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    I did not see these matches so i dont know if Medvedevs accusations allegations hold water. Anything is possible though. He felt cheated and challenged the perceived injustice. Authority should always be questioned if necessary. McEnroe challenged authority whenever he felt like it ๐Ÿ™‚

  • scoopmalinowski · August 4, 2017 at 10:07 pm

    scoopmalinowski writes:

    To condone violence on Medvedev for this is extreme. He broke no rules. Maybe he really needed help. Atp must change the rules.

  • Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 10:07 pm

    Like i said, Blake told Hewitt he heard him and to never do it again. Hewitt never did. Now you can call that having learned his lesson or being afraid of getting whooped. Whatever it is, he never did that again. May better judgment become part of Medvedev’s trade too .
    Otherwise I’d go for suspension.

  • Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 10:08 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Hewitt's better behavior could also be called respect for his fellow player and their feelings and being smart enough to know he screwed up. That's also in his favor to realize it and correct himself .

  • Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 10:11 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    The timeout to freeze another players serve is a terrible tactic. It is a tactic. I think Konta did this once? Bathroom break before another players serve? I dunno, maybe I got that wrong.

  • dan markowitz · August 4, 2017 at 10:25 pm

    dan markowitz writes:

    Paul v Kei match is super tennis, with both guys moving like cheetahs. But I watched for more than a set and I can't remember either guy coming up to net on his own volition. How about a little variety guys? I mean the court is super fast and yet both of these guys absolutely refuse to hit an approach shot, volley or overhead.

  • jg · August 4, 2017 at 10:31 pm

    jg writes:

    Right, imagine Federer on this court? But Paul is pretty impressive

  • jg · August 4, 2017 at 10:36 pm

    jg writes:

    Paul beat Mueller on the grandstand which is supposed to be faster, go figure.

  • Duke Carnoustie · August 4, 2017 at 11:54 pm

    Duke Carnoustie writes:

    Meanwhile on the practice court today, Kyrgios told the fans, "I used to be good, man. My girlfriend dumped me and now I can't play." I guess Tomljanovic ditched him after Kyrgios went out at Wimbledon with a couple of younger girls. That was in the tabloids if you missed it. Also Jack Sock defended his buddy Kyrgios today by saying maybe he is homesick! Scoop, you buying that excuse, ha!

  • Andrew Miller · August 5, 2017 at 1:29 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Tommy Paul? Match pts on Nishikori? Two weeks in a row of solid ATP wins? Even if as Catherine says, the mice are playing, and I think that's true, seeing Sock knock off Raonic, Paul get a second ATP QF and nearly his first semifinal – close but no cigar – I mean sheesh.

  • Andrew Miller · August 5, 2017 at 1:30 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Kyrgios practicing? You know he's hit rock bottom.

  • Andrew Miller · August 5, 2017 at 1:37 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Meanwhile out at Stanford…Bellis vs Coco in one semi.

  • Andrew Miller · August 5, 2017 at 1:38 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Hartt, Peliwo and Bester in Rogers qualies and many Canadians I've never seen before.

  • Andrew Miller · August 5, 2017 at 1:38 am

    Mmoh in a challenger semi in Lexington, also Millman!

  • Andrew Miller · August 5, 2017 at 1:40 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    And, Canada, Escobedo vs Christian Harrison. Escobedo's had a rough few months. Christian might make this a battle.

  • catherine · August 5, 2017 at 2:59 am

    catherine writes:

    Kvitova losing 0-6 in the 2nd to Bellis ? Maybe too much too soon for K.

  • GameSetAndMath · August 5, 2017 at 3:01 am

    Cici is probably not even 100 pounds!

  • catherine · August 5, 2017 at 3:30 am

    catherine writes:

    Yes, but the 0 score suggests Petra is still having physical problems with her hand. I'm not a fan of Bellis. She plays a very boring game, just like 75% of WTA. Doesn't matter how much she weighs. She's pretty though which pleases commercial interests I suppose and that's what counts.

  • GameSetAndMath · August 5, 2017 at 3:38 am

    Do you any inside story of what actually happened in the break in to Petra's house and the wrist slashing. It is somewhat mystique. There are some rumors floating around.

  • catherine · August 5, 2017 at 3:54 am

    catherine writes:

    I haven't heard any 'rumours' and I think I would've done at some point. It appears that Petra, rather foolishly, opened the door to a man who attacked her – probably attempted burglary. Obviously no security around. And her wrist wasn't slashed, the cuts were across her fingers on the left hand. Petra is left-handed. There are always rumours 'floating around' about incidents like this. Maybe Petra did it herself ? Maybe an ex-boyfriend ? You can say anything on the internet in my experience.

  • Gaurang · August 5, 2017 at 6:48 am

    Gaurang writes:

    Wow Tommy Paul! Didn't know he could okay that well! Wins against Pouille, Muller and 3 match points against Nishikori. 3 straight days. Wow! Is he heading to top 30 or is this just because it's a fast court? Some nice performances from Chris Harrison, Chris Eubanks, Blumberg also in the past few weeks.

  • Hartt · August 5, 2017 at 7:04 am

    Hartt writes:

    Andrew, this is Bester's last tourney before he retires at his home tournament in Vancouver, right after Rogers Cup, so it is nice he is playing in Montreal, even if it is qualies. Peliwo is finally making some progrss, although he has a long way to go. There are a couple Canadians that I have not even heard of, guess they are giving some of the really young ones a chance. One of the fun things about qualies is coming across a player you have not heard of who plays very well. I happened across Brayden Schnur that way a few years ago, when he won in qualies to make the main draw. He went to college for a couple years (and was very successful, playing for North Carolina), and recently made the top 200. I am going to the women's qualies today.They are featuring Canadian players on the Grandstand, which is the main stadium that they use for qualies. It is a nice size – not too big. I plan to see Dabrowski and, on another court, Osaka. The weather is perfect, sunny and quite cool – 18C.

  • Hartt · August 5, 2017 at 7:16 am

    Hartt writes:

    Andrew, we have another advantage of singles players trying doubles – you might actually win! Bouchard and Stephens won their SF over top seeds Mirza/Niculescu and play the final today. They had to play their QF match yesterday as well. It's true that the doubles field was not a strong one, but a win is a win and it should help these players' confidence.

  • Hartt · August 5, 2017 at 7:39 am

    Hartt writes:

    I was thinking about Bouchard/Stephens as a doubles team. It would be great if they continued. Genie has always played doubles but has not had a consistent partner. (As I wrote earlier, Genie even won the Wimby junior doubles 2 years in a row, with 2 different partners.) Whether you like these 2 players or not (and tbh I have mixed feelings about both), they do attract a lot of attention. And doubles could certainly use some attention. They are both lively individuals and I imagine they enjoy playing together, so perhaps they will carry on as a team.

  • Andrew Miller · August 5, 2017 at 7:42 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Haha! Yes I think dubs matters. Ever since reading about Hingis hating practicing and opting for "doubles as practice". And seeing how, often a win anywhere, ij any event, would help a player. There's no substitute for real match play, and dubs is real.

  • Andrew Miller · August 5, 2017 at 7:43 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    If Bouchard and Stephens win, wow!

  • catherine · August 5, 2017 at 7:53 am

    catherine writes:

    Andrew – BJK would have agreed with you in her playing days. She played all 3 events at major tournaments to get match practice and match tight.

  • Chazz · August 5, 2017 at 8:32 am

    Chazz writes:

    That Paul-Nishikori match was awesome. Paul had him on the ropes with 3 MPs. Paul adjusts his pace similar to Krygios or Monfils where he'll hit these lightning winners out of nowhere. I saw a 98 mph FH winner and a 96 mph BH winner. I hope this is the coming out party for Tommy.

  • Dan Markowitz · August 5, 2017 at 8:55 am

    Dan Markowitz writes:

    Good point Gaurang, that yes, with Paul's blazing speed, maybe some of his success this week is due to the lightening fast courts. I personally like seeing this type of tennis with quickness and shot-making emphasized than slower courts where it becomes a battle of attrition. I maintain Murry would never have won three slams and especially two Wimby's if the courts were not slowed up. He's just not that great of an athlete and he beats a lot of players just by slowing the game down. Anyway, Paul is exciting, in the Tiafoe mold. I don't find Donaldson all that much fun to watch, but with Sock, Tiafoe and Paul at least American tennis is veering away from the Isner's and Q'Ball's who are not the most exciting players to watch play.

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