Daniil Medvedev's dramatic moments at the Australian Open 2025.©(@DidMedCelebrate )
Daniil Medvedev narrowly avoided a shocking first-round exit at the Australian Open, surviving a grueling five-set battle against world number 418 Kasidit Samrej. The match ended 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in Medvedev’s favor and was filled with drama, tension, and one unforgettable outburst from the three-time Melbourne finalist.
After falling behind in the third set, Medvedev smashed his racquet against a net camera, shattering the equipment and cutting its visual feed. His frustrations began as early as the second set, where he was seen shouting at his coach, but they peaked when an unfavorable net cord left him visibly incensed. Medvedev’s repeated strikes against the camera left his racquet in pieces, requiring intervention from the umpire and a ball kid who cleared the debris. The fifth seed received a warning and faces a tournament fine for the incident.
Reflecting on the moment, Medvedev quipped, “The camera was powerful. My racquet didn’t handle the damage, but the camera did. When I saw the racquet, I thought it was time to get a new one. I hope the fine isn’t too big—I don’t think GoPros are that expensive.” Despite his on-court struggles, Medvedev regained composure after his opponent began showing signs of physical fatigue.
Samrej, playing in his first-ever Grand Slam match, initially stunned Medvedev with powerful, consistent play. The Thai wildcard ranked 418th in the world and, without prior ATP Tour experience, was on the verge of the biggest win of his career. However, as the match wore on, Samrej’s energy levels dipped, allowing Medvedev to dominate the final two sets with his trademark consistency and baseline precision.
Medvedev, who has a history of extended matches in Melbourne, including last year’s five-set final against Jannik Sinner, joked about his penchant for long battles. “I know I play better when I play more tennis, so why play one hour 30 [minutes]?” he said during his on-court interview. “It’s a minimum of three hours to feel my shots better and to have a good sensation.”
Elsewhere at the Australian Open, there were more thrilling matches and surprising outcomes. French veteran Gael Monfils, fresh off becoming the oldest ATP Tour champion at 38, defeated compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in another five-set contest. Meanwhile, fourth seed Taylor Fritz cruised past Jenson Brooksby in straight sets, and home favorite Alex de Minaur delighted the Melbourne crowd with a comfortable win over Botic van de Zandschulp.
In a notable upset, Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev fell to 18-year-old Brazilian qualifier Joao Fonseca, who emerged victorious in straight sets. With the tournament off to a dramatic start, the spotlight remains firmly on Medvedev as he seeks to channel his emotions and continue his campaign for a maiden Australian Open title
