It was one of the worst days for Daniil Medvedev at the Monte Carlo Masters, and to make it worse, he is now fined for his unsportsmanlike behaviour. The former Australian Open winner has been slapped with a €6,000 (£5,200) fine by tennis authorities for smashing his racquet during a shocking second-round defeat at the Monte Carlo Masters.
The world No. 10 suffered a rare 6-0, 6-0 loss to Italian wildcard Matteo Berrettini on April 8, marking the first double bagel of his professional career.
Medvedev fined €6,000 for racquet-smashing outburst after historic double bagel loss
Midway through the second set, with the score at 0-2, the frustrated Russian smashed his racquet seven times on the clay court before dumping the mangled frame into a courtside bin, earning a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The incident came after a dominant performance by Berrettini, who needed just 49 minutes to dispatch the seventh seed. Medvedev committed 27 unforced errors and failed to win a single game on his serve.
The fine, while notable, reflects standard penalties for equipment abuse at ATP Masters 1000 events, though many observers noted it was relatively modest given the high-profile nature of the meltdown.
Medvedev's on-court frustrations are not new, but this one drew widespread attention on social media, with fans split between amusement at the fine's size and calls for stricter punishment due to his repeated outbursts.
ALSO READ: Watch: Daniil Medvedev breaks racket multiple times as he suffers first career double bagel in Monte Carlo meltdown