Banned photographer breaks silence on 'lynching' after wild Daniil Medvedev US Open match
Updated . First published
The photographer at the centre of a US Open storm is considering legal action after he had his credentials stripped for the remainder of the grand slam tournament.
Selcuk Acar, an experienced freelancer who was filing for Getty Images, bizarrely walked on the court as Benjamin Bonzi was serving for the first round match against Daniil Medvedev on Monday (AEST).
Acar's actions distracted Bonzi and umpire Greg Allensworth awarded him another first serve because of the disruption.
Watch all the action from the 2025 US Open live & on-demand on Stan Sport. Coverage of select matches free-to-air on Nine and streaming on 9Now
The sheepish photographer. Nine
Medvedev erupted in anger and while Acar kept snapping for some time, he was escorted out of Louis Armstrong Stadium after the third set.
"I'm a victim and totally innocent," Acar told the Daily Mail.
"This incident has already turned into a lynching, and although I'm innocent, I've suffered greatly."
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Acar claimed a security official urged him to walk on the court.
"I'm not a photojournalist that can make such a mistake," he said.
The US Tennis Association disagreed.
"The photographer had been instructed to stay in place by US Open security," they said in a statement.
Daniil Medvedev breaks his racquet after losing in five sets to Benjamin Bonzi. Getty
"The chair umpire also instructed the photographer to immediately sit down, and these instructions were also disregarded. The photographer's credential was revoked for the 2025 US Open."
While disrupted, France's Bonzi clawed his way back for a dramatic 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 win.
Bonzi had been bossing his first round clash with the 13th seed Russian, leading 6-3, 7-5 and then serving for the match up 5-4 in the third.
Benjamin Bonzi of France celebrates after defeating Daniil Medvedev in five sets. Getty
But before Bonzi's second serve, an inexplicable chain of events unfolded as Acar entered the picture.
Medvedev then lost his mind in a furious tirade at Allensworth.
"Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking? What's wrong, huh? Guys, he wants to leave," Medvedev yelled.
A furious Daniil Medvedev. Nine
"He gets paid by the match, not by the hour."
Medvedev then repeatedly cried: "What did Reilly Opelka say?!"
The former US Open champion was presumably referencing Opelka calling Allensworth the "worst umpire on tour" earlier this year.
Umpire Greg Allensworth. Nine
Bonzi was forced to wait for nearly six minutes as Medvedev whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
"I've never seen a situation like this... this is unbelievable, almost six minutes," Robbie Koenig said on Stan Sport.
"This (Louis) Armstrong crowd has been sent into a frenzy... all hell broke loose, inciting the crowd."
Daniil Medvedev reacts against Benjamin Bonzi of France. Getty
When play resumed, Bonzi was understandably rattled.
Medvedev forced a tiebreak, won it and ensured a fourth set on a wild New York night.
"Phenomenal turnaround," Koenig said.
"We've seen some crazy stuff from Medvedev over the years - pushing over a cameraman in Cincinnati, destroying benches, but I don't think I've seen anything like tonight...
"He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew how long it (the delay) was going to go on for - and that's not right. It's staggering, just staggering... the New York crowd has somehow kept him in this contest."
Acar was then escorted out of the arena before the fourth set started.
"Maybe he got the score wrong," Koenig pondered, also bemused why Allensworth hadn't punished Medvedev for his tirade.
Medvedev then swept through the fourth set 6-0 as a flat Bonzi received treatment for an injury, forcing a decider.
Late drama saw Medvedev escape a time violation after he delayed his serve as his hand began to cramp.
Daniil Medvedev whips the crowd into a frenzy. Nine
Several points later, he was slapped with a time violation for the same tactics, as Bonzi set up for victory.
In a culmination of his frustration post-match, Medvedev obliterated a racquet on the sidelines.
"I have no idea, it was crazy," Bonzi said when trying to summarise the match.
"I've got some new fans and but also some new non-fans. The energy was wild. Thanks to the ones that were booing at the end for the energy in the fifth... crazy scenario."
Tennis great Boris Becker took to social media to express concern for Medvedev.
"We call this (a) 'public meltdown'. I think he needs professional help," Becker wrote.
