Daniil Medvedev threatens to retire from ATP Finals in full-blown meltdown after penalty

Daniil Medvedev tossed his racket and threatened to retire in a huge meltdown

Daniil Medvedev threatened to retire from his opening match at the ATP Finals shortly after being given a point penalty. The world No. 4 had a full-blown meltdown after getting broken in the second set of his match against Taylor Fritz. Medvedev had already received a code violation at the end of the first set. And tempers flared in the second set as he threw his racket multiple times, got docked a point, and told the umpire he was going to forfeit the contest.

Medvedev lost his head during his dramatic defeat to Fritz in Turin. His frustrations boiled over when he hit three consecutive double faults to lose the opening set, throwing his racket and getting a warning. But he didn't settle. Things only got worse when he was broken in the second when Fritz fluked a lob winner that just landed inside the court. The American apologised as he took a 4-2 lead but Medvedev had already blown his lid, tossing his racket and sending it flying behind the baseline. He hit it against an advertising board for good measure and was quickly penalised. Because it was his second warning, Medvedev received a point penalty and Fritz started the next game at 15-0 up. "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.

Daniil Medvedev told the umpire he was going to quit the match

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Medvedev kept on going, throwing his racket around as his opponent waited to serve. The Inalpi Arena crowd weren't impressed, booing and whistling. The 28-year-old continued his antics, tossing his racket into the air after every point in the game. "He's just being a bit silly here, trying to pretend the grip is slippy. Pushing his luck right now," Fleming added. Medvedev eventually went to extremes, turning his racket around and holding it by the head as he waited to return as commentators branded his actions "ridiculous". Fritz held on to extend his lead to 5-2 as Medvedev avoided another warning. As both players headed to their benches for the changeover, the world No. 4 took things up a notch and threatened to retire. Medvedev bizarrely started asking the umpire to give him a ball. "Can I have one ball? An old ball that you don’t need. One old ball," he repeated.

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