Pandemonium Erupts at the US Open After Photographer Steps on Court

The opening round of the 2025 US Open was supposed to be a routine night of tennis. Instead, it turned into one of the wildest scenes the sport has witnessed in years, complete with a photographer on the court, a furious Daniil Medvedev berating the chair umpire, and Benjamin Bonzi somehow surviving the chaos to win in five sets.

A Match Interrupted

Bonzi, leading two sets to none and serving for the match at 5-4 in the third, appeared poised to eliminate the 2021 champion. He had already missed his first serve when a freelance photojournalist, Selcuk Acar, suddenly stepped onto the playing surface. Play stopped. Confusion spread. And within seconds, a tense match had unraveled into pandemonium.

Chair umpire Greg Allensworth awarded Bonzi a do-over on his first serve rather than allowing him to continue with the second. That seemingly minor decision detonated the match. Medvedev erupted, storming toward the chair and shouting at Allensworth while whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Fans jeered and whistled for over six minutes before the match resumed.

Medvedev Meltdown

Medvedev’s tirade became an instant US Open moment. He demanded to know why the umpire was “shaking,” repeatedly questioned his courage, and mocked him for wanting to leave the stadium early. He even referenced an earlier controversy involving American Reilly Opelka, who had once called for Allensworth to be suspended.

The antics didn’t stop there. He egged on spectators, dragged out the delay, and made sure every ounce of tension lingered over Bonzi’s service. Somehow, Medvedev managed to push the set to a tiebreaker, claw his way through it, and then steamroll the fourth set 6-0 as Bonzi, nursing a knee issue, looked rattled and drained.

At that point, it felt like Medvedev had staged one of the stranger comebacks in recent memory. But the fifth set brought its own swings. Both players traded breaks in a nervy finish before Bonzi, urged on by his team’s cries of “Allez!” and “Courage!” struck a clean backhand winner to seal a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 victory.

Medvedev smashed his racket in frustration, his Grand Slam season ending with another early exit.

The Photographer’s Defense

As for the man at the center of the storm, Acar insists he was scapegoated. He told reporters he believed security had informed him the match was paused, which is why he moved. A veteran of high-profile international events, including presidential visits and the FIFA World Cup, Acar rejected the idea that he had recklessly disrupted play.

The USTA disagreed. In a statement, officials confirmed Acar had been told to stay in position but ignored both security staff and the chair umpire. His credential was revoked immediately, ending his access to the tournament.

Fallout and Reactions

For Medvedev, though, the controversy was one more blow in a season of disappointments. With his loss, he became the first former US Open champion to bow out this year.

Meanwhile, Bonzi walked away with both the win and a memorable quote. “The energy was crazy,” he said afterward. “Thanks to all who were booing. Thanks for the energy. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”