In a surprising display of frustration, former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev experienced an astonishing meltdown during his match at the Monte Carlo Masters. He suffered a humiliating 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Matteo Berrettini, and in his anger, smashed his racquet into the clay court multiple times before discarding it in a bin. This incident occurred midway through the second set when Medvedev, currently ranked 10th, received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct and is expected to face a significant fine.
The match quickly spiralled out of control for Medvedev. After losing his opening service game of the second set, he fell to a 2-0 deficit. His frustrations escalated as he hurled his racquet towards a tarp at the end of the court and continued to destroy it until it was reduced enough to fit into a courtside rubbish bin, earning sarcastic cheers from the crowd. Ultimately, Medvedev’s performance was subpar, recording five double faults to Berrettini’s none and managing only 36 per cent of his first serves in play. He won just 17 of the 67 points contested throughout the match, which concluded in a brief 49 minutes.
This loss marked a stark contrast to their previous encounters, where Medvedev had emerged victorious in all three matches against Berrettini. Notably, Berrettini’s victory was historic; he became only the fifth player since the inception of the ATP Rankings in 1973 to win a match with a score of 6-0, 6-0 against a top-10 opponent, a feat that hasn’t been achieved in a decade.
Berrettini, who is currently ranked 90th after struggling with injuries, expressed disbelief at the outcome, stating, “I wouldn’t expect to win like that and it doesn’t happen that often.” His performance was exceptional, with the Italian noting he missed only three shots throughout the match. This win marks a remarkable comeback for him as he received a wild card entry to the tournament.
In summary, Medvedev’s disappointing match serves as a reminder of the highs and lows of competitive sport, while Berrettini relishes one of the greatest performances of his career as both players navigate the challenges that come with the sport.