Psychologist Comes to Defense of Daniil Medvedev After US Open Meltdown by Citing Novak Djokovic’s Example

Daniil Medvedev landed in hot water when a photographer inadvertently interrupted while he was clashing with Benjamin Bonzi during the first round of the US Open. That interruption started a string of reactions from Medvedev, who first had an altercation with the chair umpire, and then he riled up the crowd to boo the former.

The crowd acted on his wishes and continued booing for six straight minutes. This interrupted Bonzi, who was serving for the match in the third set. He was broken by the Russian who won that set, then bageled the Frenchman in the fourth; though his efforts went in vain as he lost the fifth set and crashed out of the tournament.

The drama did not end there. A bewildered Medvedev sat on his bench, and moments afterward, he smashed his racket to pieces. For his meltdown, he was fined $42,500 by the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

A few days later, reports emerged that he also parted ways with his longtime coach, Gilles Cervara. His psychologist, Francisca Dauzet, said such reactions are normal and can also stem from the player being in some difficult situation. She told Tennis Majors:

This can concern [Jannik] Sinner, [Carlos] Alcaraz, [Novak] Djokovic, or anyone. I remember an article after the 2021 US Open, where two French shrinks made two contradictory analyzes of Djokovic’s character, neither of them knowing him. Most people who talk there do not seem to know what a high-level athlete lives, and even more so in tennis, a sport which is so particular that it exacerbates emotions to the highest point.

It was Medvedev’s third straight defeat in the first rounds of Grand Slam events this season. Only at the Australian Open did he somehow reach the second round, and lost that match.

Daniil Medvedev’s psychologist also defends Corentin Moutet and Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios is called the Bad Boy of tennis, thanks to his controversial conduct on court as well as his statements about his colleagues, former and current. Even Frenchman Corentin Moutet loses his temper often while playing. Daniil Medvedev‘s psychologist, Francisca Dauzet, also defended them, saying that’s just how they function.