DANIIL MEDVEDEV launched into the mother of all meltdowns at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
The Russian, 28, took on popular Frenchman Gael Monfils in the second round in Monaco.
ReutersDaniil Medvedev got into an angry spat with umpire Mohamed Lahyani[/caption]
X/TunedIntoTennisHe screamed furiously at the Swede[/caption]
And he played up to his pantomime villain character once again with an epic tantrum at umpire Mohamed Lahyani.
Serving at 1-2 in the second set having taken the opener 6-2, Medvedev was twice left angered by the line judge on the baseline.
At 30-0, Monfils sliced a backhand near the back of the line – but before his flashing forehand winner, the ball was called out.
However, Lahyani raced down to check the mark and signalled the ball was in and the point had to be replayed.
Medvedev then asked the chair umpire: “Don’t you mind if I lose this game?” before mimicking the Swede, while Monfils laughed at the other end.
Monfils won it then on the very next point, at 30-15, a ball close to the line was not called out by the same judge, prompting another furious Medvedev reaction as he angrily swiped at the mark.
Lahyani was down on the court again, again overruling the line judge by confirming the ball had bounced out.
Medvedev was ready to blast the line judge, but Lahyani said: “Daniil don’t shout at him please don’t shout at him. He can make a mistake as well.”
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The Russian dropped his serve to trail 3-1 – and at the next change of ends he went on a raging rant at Lahyani, who again reiterated that everyone makes mistakes.
Medvedev fumed: “I don’t give a f***, I don’t give a s***. It’s out. It’s out.”
He then whacked the roof covering his chair before moaning: “How can you apologise? I lost the fricking game. It’s a fricking sport, man.
“You guys should do better. You guys are blind. It’s a fricking joke.”
Petulant Medevedv then turned angry and shouted loudly at the umpire: “How did I lose the game when it’s out? IT’S OUT! IT’S OUT!”
“F***ing s***, it’s unbelievable.”
Sky Sports had to apologise for the expletive-laden explosion before Medvedev then appeared to mutter under his breath in his native Russian.
He then continued his fury in English when Lahyani called “time” and was booed by the Monegasque crowd.
But the world No4 regained his focus to prevail 6-2 6-4 – signing the camera lens with “in or out???” – and book his spot in round three, where he faces compatriot Karen Khachanov.
Medvedev – who was fortunate to escape punishment for his antics – later admitted he went “crazy”.
‘OVER THE TOP’
But fans were not happy with his behaviour.
One said: “Giant baby, this is sooo embarrassing.”
Another wrote: “I get being upset, but the tantrum on the changeover is just over the top for me.”
A third added: “Daniil Medvedev flipping out on live television, clay court tennis is so back.”
And a final user commented: “Medvedev is right in what he is saying but maybe pushing the equipment etc is not the right way… but emotions can boil over because costly mistakes are being made.”
Medvedev is no stranger to controversy and run-ins with umpires or crowds.
At Wimbledon in 2017, he was fined £11,200 for opening his wallet and throwing coins at an umpire.
He then wound up the New York crowd at the US Open with his legendary post-match interview.
The Russian also suggested he could “die” playing in the extreme heat during the Tokyo Olympics.
And at the 2022 Australian Open, he brilliantly avoided using an offensive term by calling the umpire a “small cat”.
X/TunedIntoTennisMedvedev shoved the cover of his chair in the meltdown[/caption]
X/TunedIntoTennisHe was not happy with a pair of line calls on the baseline[/caption]
X/TheTennisLetterMedvedev signed the camera lens “in or out???”[/caption]
X/TheTennisLetterThe Russian has got into plenty of rows with umpires and crowds[/caption]“}]]