Daniil Medvedev asked “why is every referee in the world trying to intimidate me?” during his China Open semifinal defeat to America’s Learner Tien Tuesday, after being given a “best effort” warning for not moving to return a serve while suffering from debilitating cramps.
Medvedev, currently ranked No. 18 after a poor run of results, was trailing 1-0 in the third set and could barely move. When Tien served up 30-15, Medvedev remained stationary before struggling to walk to the other side of the court to try and return serve again down 40-15. It was at this point that the umpire Adel Nour gave Medvedev a code violation warning for “best effort.”
According to the ATP handbook: “A player shall use his best efforts during the match when competing in a tournament. Violation of this section shall subject a player to a fine up to $40,000 for each violation” (at a 500-level event like the China Open).
Medvedev, who can appeal the code violation, will not be fined, according to representatives for the player and the ATP Tour. An ATP spokesperson said: “Upon reviewing the incident during Daniil Medvedev’s semi-final match in Beijing, ATP Officiating has determined that the ‘Best Efforts’ code violation was issued in error. This was communicated to Medvedev and his team following the match, and no fine will be imposed.”
A stunned Medvedev waited a moment and then called for the tournament supervisor. Medvedev walked to him and Nour, and said to the supervisor: “If I tell him something bad I get disqualified, but what am I supposed to tell to this guy?” When Nour started to respond to being asked by the supervisor why he had given the warning, Medvedev interjected and asked: “Why are you talking?
Nour argued that: “I know he is not feeling well but there is no movement … We have to show that we are to play.”
Medvedev shot back: “Say it in the camera that you prefer that guys retire.
“I can talk to you for 10 minutes and maybe I’m not cramping after 10 minutes,” he added. “I’m giving my best efforts, so why the hell is he not giving best effort? Who are you to decide for me? Who are you? What’s your name?
“I want to do something bad, I’m not allowed to, because I’m disqualified,” he said. “I didn’t say one word, after U.S. Open I’m trying to be good, and this guy is doing that.”
Medvedev was fined $42,500 at the U.S. Open last month for unsportsmanlike conduct and racket abuse during his first-round defeat to Benjamin Bonzi, and has had numerous run-ins with officials, but Nour’s interpretation of the “best effort” rule, which is designed to stop players “tanking” or throwing away games deliberately, appeared not to take account of Medvedev’s physical condition.
The Russian was forced to retire a few games later, trailing 5-7, 7-5, 4-0, which handed Tien a place in the final against world No. 2 Jannik Sinner. The victory means that only Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner have more top-10 wins this year than Tien, a 19-year-old American ranked No. 52.
Despite the nature of his exit, this was still an encouraging week for Medvedev, who reached what was only his second semifinal of the year. He’ll aim now to get fit for the Shanghai Masters, which begins Wednesday, where he will face Wu Yibing or a qualifier in his opening match.
(Photo: Pedro Pardo / AFP via Getty Images)
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