Toni Nadal harshly criticizes Medvedev after what happened at the US Open: "It was lamentable"

Jose Morón | 31 Aug 2025 | 14.56

Toni Nadal strongly criticizes Medvedev after what happened at the US Open: "It was regrettable." Photo: Getty

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Several days have passed since Daniil Medvedev delivered that spectacle (and not in a good way) against Benjamin Bonzi at the US Open. The Russian continues to receive criticism for his behavior. The latest to do so is Toni Nadal.

The coach dedicates his latest column in El País, where he criticizes the behavior of a Daniil who repeatedly lost his temper since a photographer entered the court, leading to Bonzi receiving a first serve again after missing it with a match point in his favor.

Medvedev's outburst, gestures, and his final racket smash resulted in a fine of $42,500, when a somewhat larger punishment was expected, considering what had happened in the past. This has not gone unnoticed by Toni, who believes that these kinds of attitudes should change in the world of tennis.

"The time has come for tennis authorities to consider penalizing players for breaking a racket on court," Toni denounces, viewing this act as something to be penalized. It must be remembered that he always taught his nephew not to vent his frustration on the racket, to the extent that Rafa never smashed one in his over 20-year career.

“We must question why this act is becoming increasingly common in our sport. I have never seen a table tennis player break a paddle or a golfer take it out on their club after making a mistake,” he argues. "Medvedev's performance was regrettable. He triggered everything, although the audience also played a part, demanding more entertainment than tennis. I am surprised that a player of Daniil's caliber is unable to control his nerves," he continues.

Toni Nadal has always emphasized that young individuals need to learn how to deal with frustration, noting that nowadays, young people are accustomed to getting everything quickly and instantly, lacking the necessary patience to invest time and effort.

“Tennis players are increasingly unable to control their frustration,” he asserts, attributing it to their youth and the rapid pace of today's game. The coach also mentions that these moments where players lose their composure, break rackets, or confront others become viral on social media, portraying a very negative image to young children.

In fact, in this column for El País, Toni Nadal talks about Nick Kyrgios, pointing out that he has been a negative example due to his lack of respect on the court, often starring in viral videos that circulate worldwide. “This is the world we live in, where we don't concern ourselves with applauding rudeness or outbursts. And for this, there is no sporting punishment,” he concludes.

Certainly, the US Open had the opportunity to set a clear example with a significant fine for Daniil Medvedev for the events of the other night. Making gestures simulating a sexual act, disrespecting his opponent and the chair umpire, in addition to breaking a racket, should have warranted a much higher fine than just $42,500, especially considering his prize money was $110,000.

These punishments are insignificant compared to their earnings, and in the past, bad manners, foul language, and disrespect towards officials resulted in six-figure fines. Perhaps not even something as severe could serve as a deterrent for another player to refrain from such behavior in the future. It is likely that a loss of points and money would "hurt" the player more, but what is clear is that in terms of penalties, the world of tennis still has a long way to go in improvement.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Toni Nadal carga duramente contra Medvedev tras lo sucedido en el US Open: "Fue lamentable"