Daniil Medvedev opened up his ATP Finals campaign in utterly bizarre fashion and nearly quit against Taylor Fritz after receiving a point penalty. He had a meltdown after he was broken in the second set of his match against the American.
Medvedev had already received a code violation at the end of the first set. Tempers flared further as he threw his racquet in the air multiple times. He got docked a point and told the umpire he was going to forfeit.
He hit three consecutive double faults to lose the opening set, threw his racquet and got a warning. But he didn't settle down. Things got worse as he was broken when Fritz got lucky on a lob and he apologised. But this irked Medvedev who tossed his racquet sending it flying behind the baseline.
He hit it against the advertising hoarding and was penalized. He received a point penalty again and was utterly losing his mind out on court. "Had to be. He’s completely smashed that microphone, there’s going to be a fine and I’m sure paying the damages as well. Careful Daniil, you’re going to really lose the crowd here," Colin Fleming said on commentary.
He continued throwing his racquet around as the crowd booed and whistled. He turned his racquet around and held it by the head as he waited to return. Utterly bizarre scenes.
"I’m gonna retire. I’m gonna retire man. I’m gonna retire if you don’t give me a ball. I’m gonna retire right now," he threatened.