In a heated moment at the Monte Carlo Masters, Daniil Medvedev, facing Gael Monfils, found himself on the receiving end of a warning from the umpire. The incident occurred during their match, which Medvedev eventually won 6-2 6-4.
The tension arose when, leading 6-2 1-2, Medvedev disagreed with two calls made by a line judge on the baseline. Frustrated, he shouted at the official, prompting umpire Mohamed Lahyani to intervene twice to check the calls and calm the situation.
“Daniil please don’t shout at him,” Lahyani urged Medvedev, emphasizing that line judges could make mistakes too.
Despite being 40-15 up during the incident, Medvedev lost his serve and found himself trailing 4-1. However, he managed to rally, winning five consecutive games to clinch victory over Monfils.
The dispute began with a disputed shot by Monfils that Medvedev returned with a forehand winner, initially called out. Though Lahyani checked the call and awarded the point to Monfils, Medvedev was visibly frustrated, especially as Hawk-Eye showed the shot was actually out.
Further controversy arose when Monfils’ subsequent shot, called in, was revealed by Hawk-Eye to be beyond the baseline. Medvedev erupted in protest, leading to another intervention by Lahyani. While the umpire sided with Medvedev this time, awarding him the point, he went on to lose his serve.
During a changeover, Medvedev continued to express his frustration, shouting and swearing at Lahyani while hitting the canopy of his chair. Despite the heated exchange, he later shook hands with Lahyani.
Reflecting on the incident, Medvedev expressed his belief that the disputed shots were out, expressing disappointment at the missed opportunity to win the game outright. However, he acknowledged his effort in maintaining composure and staging a comeback from 4-1 down in the set.
Medvedev’s next challenge at the Monte Carlo Masters will see him face compatriot Karen Khachanov in the last 16. Despite the controversy, he remains focused on his performance and aims to maintain composure in future matches.
Credit: BBC Sport
