Tennis player Daniil Medvedev became the hero of US Open and the enemy of New York

At first he was declared “Russian troll”, but now everything is on his side

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev continues a series of victories at the opening championship of the United States, which started on August 26 in New York. But the unexpected attention of the public and the press to the Russian did not attract his victory, but the behavior on the court and enmity with the New York public. Because of her, Medvedev was declared the “Russian troll” and the main villain of the tournament. However, his victory in the quarter -finals changed everything.

Match against Feliciano Lopez - rudeness, unsportsmanlike behavior and ridicule over the public

In the first and second Circle of US Open, a 23-year-old Russian did not attract excessive attention of the public. On the eve of the championship, the American press celebrated his “careless” manner of the game, which, nevertheless, allowed him to quickly rise in the world ranking .

The hero of US Open Medvedev became August 31, in the third round of the tournament - in the match against the Spaniard Feliciano Lopez. Already in the first set, Medvedev allowed himself a hooligan trick, roughly tearing a towel from the hands of Bulbo , and then throwing a racket to the court.

Judge Damien Dumusua immediately issued an official warning to the Russian, and the audience began to more actively root for his opponent. In response, Medvedev showed the fans the middle finger. The judge did not notice this gesture, and the second official warning was not followed. But the gesture was noticed by the audience - especially after the broadcast directors brought the episode to repet.

After the victory over Lopez in four sets, the Russian in a post-match interview continued to dive with the New York public, thanking her for the boost: “Thank you guys! Your energy brought me victory. Without you, I would lose because I am very tired. And I want to go to bed today, you understand-I won because of you! ” He accompanied the appeal to the public with ulcerative gestures.

Match against Dominic Kepfer - dance on the court and new mockery of the public

For behavior in the match with Lopez, Medvedev was fined nine thousand dollars, and on September 2 in the 1/8 finals against the German Dominic Kepfer, the Russian behaved differently.

However, the audience was originally configured against him: Medvedev again booed. In response, he defeated again - and again in four sets - and at the same time he danced on the court under the disapproving shouts of the audience.

The Russian managed to come up with new gestures in response to the condemning rumble of the stands.

Then he again turned to the public in a post -match interview: “My shoulder hurt. I took as many painkillers as I could. But you guys, and your mood against me gave me enough energy to win. Thank you".

Later, Medvedev tried to explain himself and apologize for his behavior: “I myself provoked all this, and I don’t like it, but now I have to deal with this, and I cope in my own way. Priority for me is to win the match, and if I have to win it, taking all the energy that the crowd has, even if it is against me, I have to do it. ”

The match with Kepfer finally turned Medvedev into the main antihero of the championship. “US Open: Daniil Medvedev enjoys the role of the Russian troll,” is the BBC headline . “The villain of US Open moves forward, fueled by the hostility of the public,” The New York Post entered her material. “King of the trolls: Daniil Medvedev with hilarious gestures destroys the audience on US Open,” Yahoo Sports reported . “The Victorious Daniil Medvedev with his epic trolling is the best villain US Open,” Sports Illustrated summed up .

At the same time, Medvedev’s confrontation with New York turned into a topic for jokes in social networks.

Match against Stan Vavrinka - injury, victory and recognition

On September 3, Medvedev entered a quarter-final match with Swiss Stan Vavrinka-and the New York people again met him with the usual indignant hum. In addition, during the meeting, the Russian damaged the thigh and began to move along the court with visible labor. Nevertheless, Medvedev won four sets again - and no longer allowed himself the mockery of the public.

The stands met his victory with the same dissatisfied hum, but this time applause was already mixed with him. The tennis player ended the post -match interview with a new appeal to the public: “Excuse me, guys, and thanks.”

As a result, Medvedev not only reached the semifinals of US Open, becoming the first Russian in the last nine years that succeeded, but once again rose in the world ranking - now he will become the fourth racket of the world.

The tonality of the headings in the press has changed dramatically. “US Open: Daniil Medvedev is not a villain, but an incomprehensible genius, his coach explains after winning Stan Vavrinka,” writes The Independent. “Medvedev’s bad guy is too good in comparison with Vavrinka,” says The New York Times. “Daniil Medvedev: The villain disappears, but the player is good than ever,” says Tennis.com.

The social networks also went over to the side of the Russian.

Moreover, the first racket of the world in female tennis Naomi Osaka embarked on his side: “His sarcasm is beautiful. I do not know why they [spectators] boast him, but it is so funny. And every day he manages to tell them something new. ”

The Russian himself, meanwhile, published a conciliatory selfie on Instagram along with the audience of US Open.

In the semifinals, Medvedev will play with Grigor Dimitrov from Bulgaria. The match will take place on September 6th.

Peter Lokhov