Daniil Medvedev booed off court after furious meltdown at Citi Open

Corentin Moutet pulled off one of the most significant victories of his career at the Citi Open, defeating former finalist Daniil Medvedev 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a thrilling quarter-final showdown in Washington D.C. The Frenchman’s win sparked an explosive outburst from Medvedev, who exited the court to a chorus of boos.

A dramatic final point

The match ended with a breathtaking rally, one of the most intense of the season. Medvedev, battling fiercely to stay alive, pushed the rally to its limits before misfiring at the net, sending the ball long and confirming Moutet’s spot in the semi-finals against Alex de Minaur.

As Moutet dropped to the court in celebration, Medvedev's frustration boiled over. The Russian hurled his racket high into the air, narrowly missing a staff member and flying past the umpire’s chair. He then stomped toward his bench and destroyed two water bottles in front of a stunned crowd, who responded with loud boos.

Medvedev’s troubles mount

The volatile moment marks another low point in Medvedev’s difficult 2025 season. Currently ranked World No. 14, his lowest position since May 2019, he showed early dominance by taking the opening set 6-1. But Moutet responded with resilience and flair, shifting momentum after a mid-match delay.

The quarter-final clash was suspended for over an hour due to lightning, with Moutet leading 5-4 in the third set. Upon resumption, he broke Medvedev’s serve immediately, capitalizing on three double faults to clinch a memorable win.

Playing through pain

Medvedev recently revealed he has been battling a persistent shoulder injury that impacted his game for more than a year.

If I remember correctly, it would be from mid-2023 to mid-2024, he said. It was painful almost all the time. Sometimes more. Sometimes less.

It’s not easy because in many training sessions, you want to work on the serve, but I didn’t because I was afraid of aggravating it further. However, we found a way to work on it, and I’ve been pain-free for quite a while now, since mid-2024.

When it happened, it also bothered me in the right arm. In fact, I felt like I lacked general energy as well. Whenever you have some pain, it’s not easy to play with it. Eventually, you try to cope with the pain.

Corentin Moutet will take on Alex de Minaur in the semi-final of the ongoing Citi Open.