Daniil Medvedev loses temper amid Monte-Carlo rout, smashes racquet 7 times, dumps it in bin as rival says sorry

Daniil Medvedev lost the match in 49 minutes and had five double faults, compared to Matteo Berrettini's none.

Published on: Apr 9, 2026, 09:35:04 IST

Written by Neelav Chakravarti

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Daniil Medvedev had a nightmare encounter against Matteo Berrettini in their Round of 32 showdown at the Monte-Carlo Masters. The Russian crumbled in a 0-6, 0-6 defeat, and he was fuming throughout the match, smashing his racquet seven times.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev smashes his racket on the clay during his match against Italy's Matteo Berrettini. (AFP)

His anger was first visible in the first set when he was trailing 0-2. He smashed his racquet on the baseline and then picked it up, followed by throwing it towards a tarp at the end of the court. Then he picked it up again and kept on smashing it until it was destroyed enough to fit through an opening in a trash can.

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Medvedev lost the match in 49 minutes and had five double faults, compared to Berrettini's none. He put only 36 per cent of his first serves in play, compared to Berrettini's 65 per cent. Meanwhile, he also won only 17 of the 67 points.

Commenting on Medvedev's outburst, former world no. 1 doubles player Jamie Murray said, "It is shocking, it shouldn't happen... it did."

"I am not sure how much effect that will have on him going forward. I think he will be pretty embarrassed walking into the locker room and will probably be wanting to get off site pretty quickly.

"He played so well in Indian Wells as well. He talks about clay not being his favourite surface and the difficulties he has on it but he won in Rome [in 2023] - if you can win in Rome, you can play on clay," he added.

Meanwhile, Berrettini apologised to a Medvedev fan after his win. After his match, he signed the camera and wrote, "Scusa Carlo V."

Explaining it later, he revealed that he was apologising to Italian actor and screenwriter Carlo Verdone, who recently said he was a huge fan of Medvedev.

Speaking to Sky Sports Italy, he said, "The writing on the camera? It was for Carlo Verdone."

"I know he's a fan of mine, but Medvedev is his favourite player, so I don't know who he was rooting for today. That's why I apologised to him."

The result saw Berrettini become the fifth player (since the ATP rankings started in 1973) to beat a top-10 opponent 6-0, 6-0. The last time such a score happened was a decade ago, when David Goffin defeated Tomas Berdych at the Italian Open

"I wouldn’t expect to win like that and it doesn’t happen that often," he said.

"It was definitely one of the best performances of my life. I think I missed three shots in the whole match.

"I faced two break points in the first game and then after that it felt I was playing better than him. I was not expecting to win zero, zero like that. But I kept my focus as I know one break or two breaks is not enough sometimes, so I kept pushing.

“I have been playing for a long time, so I felt it was really important to hold my serve at the staIt is a matter ofset. Few points at the start and then when you go up two breaks you are more relaxed and the ball is [flying] out of your racquet,” he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neelav Chakravarti
Neelav Chakravarti has been part of the digital sports team at Hindustan Times since 2022, where he covers a wide range of disciplines, including chess, cricket, football, and Olympic sports. Working in a fast-paced digital newsroom, he regularly handles live blogs, breaking updates, and trending stories, combining speed with clarity to keep readers informed in real time. Chess remains both a professional beat and a personal passion for Neelav, and he closely tracks major international tournaments, player narratives, and emerging talents. He is particularly fascinated by the patience, calculation, and strategic depth the game demands, often exploring the psychological side of competition in his writing. Beyond sports journalism, Neelav has a deep interest in visual storytelling and filmmaking, actively participating in film festivals and engaging with independent cinema. He is especially drawn to films that capture the subtleties of everyday life and human relationships, appreciating storytelling that balances realism with emotional depth. This creative interest complements his approach to sports coverage, where he enjoys highlighting the human stories behind performances and results. A history enthusiast by academic training, Neelav holds a bachelor’s degree in the subject and maintains a sustained interest in ancient and medieval Indian history, particularly in cultural and social transitions across eras. His curiosity about the past often shapes his perspective on contemporary narratives and long-form storytelling. When he isn’t tracking scores or developing storylines, Neelav enjoys spending time over the chessboard, relaxing with his cats, or listening to the Empire podcast by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple. He also enjoys reading long-form sports writing that explores the emotional and cultural layers of sport, while maintaining a quiet routine that balances reading, reflection, and occasional time with friends.Read More

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