Daniil Medvedev breaks two advertising boards and misses three match points in magnificent meltdown against Nakashima

Daniil Medvedev really went through it in his 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-1 defeat to Brandon Nakashima in the third round of the Cincinnati Open. His damage bill will be a hefty one after microphones and advertising boards felt his wrath topped with an argument with the umpire.

To add to all of this, Medvedev missed three match points in the second set. He was fortunate to come away with the first set. Nakashima broke the serve and had led 5-2 with set points coming his way. However, four came and went over two games and Medvedev managed to claw himself back into it, confirming a tiebreak and winning it.

Nakashima was a tough opponent to come up against. He is an inform tennis player following his Canadian Open final run and will be looking to continue this marvellous rise on the way to the US Open.

There were nine comfortable holds to begin this set, but then Medvedev looked to have things done and sorted after going 0-40 ahead. The Russian's three match points would all go to waste as Nakashima fought his way back into it and eventually got level at 5-5.

After those chances came and went, in a furious turn of events he threw his racket into the advertising board at the back of the court, damaging part of it. Fortunately for him, the umpire, Mohamed Lahyani, looked the other way this time around.

During the tiebreak, Medvedev was not completely satisfied with the advertising board the other side of the court, and decided to inflict some damage on the other one as well. After being aced, he went 4-2 down and prompted to kick it twice.

This time Lahyani decided to give a code violation to the former US Open champion. He exchanged a few words with the Swede before guzzling down some water and collecting his thoughts. He would inevitably end up losing the tiebreak and the match went the distance.

Medvedev is not known for his calm persona on court, in fact the complete opposite. Regularly breaking rackets or shouting at umpires, he is box office for the fans but this can cause the self-destruct mode to be switched on.

This was for show on the court. He would be broken as Nakashima sprinted out into a 3-1 lead, backing it up with a hold to love. It would go from bad to worse with the break deficit being doubled. Nakashima led 5-1 and Medvedev was utterly fed up.

He lightly kicked the microphone planted at the back of the court a few times before with a bit more force knocking it over. The ball kid did not seem very impressed and put it back up, only for Medvedev to repeat the incident and knock it over again, seemingly testing the umpire while letting out some frustration.

That was not enough to satisfy his craving. Seemingly with a motive against microphones, using his hands this time he dragged the other one to the ground.

Medvedev would lose the game and exit the Cincinnati Open at the third round stage for the second time in four years. Between 2019 and 2022, Medvedev won the event, reached the semi-finals twice with his worst result being a quarter-final run back in 2020. He has failed to reach the fourth round in any of the last four tournaments in Ohio. a real contrasting picture of result.

This was a huge opportunity missed. Still in the top eight in the ATP Race to Turin, he needs points to bolster his position as he looks to clamber up the rankings. For Nakashima, he will face Nuno Borges as he seeks back-to-back Masters 1000 quarter-finals.