NEW YORK — The psychologist who has worked extensively with Daniil Medvedev has spoken out for the first time about the former US Open champion’s stunning first-round meltdown at Flushing Meadows, an incident that resulted in a record $38,000 (£31,000) fine and sent shockwaves through the tennis world.
Medvedev, the 2021 champion and world No. 3, suffered a shock defeat to unseeded Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell, but it was his on-court behavior that dominated headlines. In a fit of rage, Medvedev repeatedly yelled at chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore, smashed his racket violently on the hard court, and received multiple code violations.
Dr. Francisca Dauzet, a Paris-based sports psychologist who has been part of Medvedev’s inner circle for several years, described the incident as “a perfect storm of external pressure and internal frustration that he was, on that day, unable to manage.” She emphasized that such outbursts, while unacceptable, are not indicative of a player's overall character but are instead acute failures of emotional regulation under extreme duress.
The Anatomy of a Meltdown
The match itself was a grueling affair played in hot and humid conditions. From the outset, Medvedev appeared agitated, frequently complaining about the bounce of the ball and his own unforced errors. The tension reached a boiling point in the third set. After a disputed line call, Medvedev launched into a tirade directed at Asderaki-Moore, accusing her of being “blind” and questioning her competence.
This verbal assault earned him a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct. Minutes later, after losing a crucial point to go down a break, Medvedev completely lost control. He slammed his Yonex racket into the court three times with such force that it was left mangled and unusable. This act resulted in a point penalty, further deepening the hole he was in.
Dr. Dauzet pointed to several contributing factors that are often overlooked by the public:
- Physical Discomfort: The intense humidity was a significant factor.
- High Expectations: The pressure to defend a deep run from the previous year.
- Early Adversity: Facing a qualifier playing the match of his life.
- Perceived Injustice: A belief that pivotal moments were going against him.
The Record Fine and Its Implications
The tournament referee’s office later announced the fine, which broke down into $20,000 for verbal abuse of the umpire, $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, and $8,000 for racket abuse. This total surpassed previous fines for on-court behavior, signaling a potential hardening of stance from officials. A Grand Slam statement read, “The penalties are consistent with the severity of the breaches of the Grand Slam code of conduct.”
For Dr. Dauzet, the financial penalty is secondary to the psychological one. “The real cost for an athlete like Daniil isn’t the monetary fine; it’s the damage to his self-image and the public perception. He is a perfectionist, and he holds himself to an incredibly high standard. To fail so publicly in managing his emotions is what hurts the most and is the focus of our work moving forward.”
Beyond the Anger: The Psychologist's Perspective
Dr. Dauzet was quick to defend her client, explaining that his fiery on-court persona is often a misguided channel for his intense desire to win. “What you see is a competitor who feels everything so deeply. The frustration isn’t born from a lack of respect, but from an overflow of passion that, in that moment, has no healthy outlet. His brain is so wired for solutions that when he cannot find one, the system short-circuits.”
She revealed that their work focuses not on suppressing emotion, but on creating space between the trigger and the reaction. “We are building tools for him to recognize the tsunami of frustration before it crests. It might be a breathing technique, a specific visual cue, or a physical routine. The goal is to insert a two-second pause where instinct normally takes over.”
A Pattern of Behavior
Medvedev is no stranger to controversy on the court. Early in his career, he was known for his fiery temper and confrontations with crowds, most notably at the 2019 US Open when he sarcastically thanked a booing crowd for their energy, which he credited for his comeback victories. While he has markedly matured since then, Dr. Dauzet admits that “old patterns can re-emerge under maximum stress.”
The Path Forward: Accountability and Growth
In the days following the incident, Medvedev issued a public apology via social media, stating, “I would like to apologize for my behavior during my match at the US Open. I truly love this tournament and New York fans, and I am very sorry I let you down. I will learn from this and strive to be better.”
Dr. Dauzet confirmed that this accountability is a crucial part of the process. “Acknowledging the mistake publicly is the first step in owning it privately. We are using this experience not as a failure, but as a critical data point. It shows us where the weaknesses in the armor are, and that allows us to reinforce them.”
She concluded by expressing confidence in Medvedev’s ability to grow from the experience. “Daniil’s intelligence and self-awareness are his greatest assets. This was a bad day, a very public bad day, but it does not define him as a player or a person. The work continues, and his resilience has never been in question.”
The tennis world will now watch closely to see how Medvedev responds. For a player of his caliber, the challenge is not just to regain his form but to master the one opponent that proves most difficult for every elite athlete: themselves. As Dr. Dauzet puts it, “The goal is not to eliminate the fire, but to control it so it warms you instead of burns you.”