The 2025 US Open men’s singles matches have just begun, and the action is already unforgettable. At Louis Armstrong Stadium, the opening-round match between Daniil Medvedev and Benjamin Bonzi took a wild turn, creating a scene reminiscent of Reilly Opelka’s recent verbal dispute at the Dallas Open.
Why Did Daniil Medvedev Confront the Chair Umpire?
The controversy erupted at a critical moment in the match. Bonzi was at match point against Medvedev, leading 6-3, 7-5, 5-4, when he missed his first serve. Just then, a photographer unexpectedly walked onto the court, likely trying to get into position for the final shot.
Due to this sudden delay, chair umpire Greg Allensworth ruled that Bonzi could replay his first serve instead of proceeding to a second serve. The decision sparked an angry outburst from Medvedev.
As the crowd began to boo, Medvedev urged them to get even louder. He then confronted Allensworth directly, saying, “Are you a man? Why are you shaking? What’s wrong, huh?” Turning to a nearby camera, he shouted, “Guys, he wants to leave. He’s paid by the match, not by the hour!”
Medvedev then referenced the previous incident involving Reilly Opelka, shouting, “What did Reilly Opelka say? What did Reilly Opelka say?” while gesturing for the crowd to roar even louder.
INSANE scenes in the Medvedev & Bonzi match at US Open
A cameraman was trying to leave after Bonzi missed his 1st serve.
The umpire gave Bonzi a 1st serve.
Daniil: “Are you a man? Are you a man? why are you shaking? What’s wrong huh? Guys he wants to leave. He gets paid by… pic.twitter.com/nzlqgoWxre
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 25, 2025
How Has Greg Allensworth’s History Fueled Player Frustration?
Earlier this year at the Dallas Open, Opelka argued with Allensworth during a match against Cameron Norrie. The dispute began after Opelka complained about a spectator who repeatedly coughed during his serve. When Opelka stopped play to confront the fan, Allensworth gave him a code violation and a point penalty for swearing.
After the match, Opelka did not hold back. He said, “Greg Allensworth is the worst ref in the ATP. We were talking about him in the locker room, all the players, it really is a coincidence about two days ago [we were talking about the worst umpire on the tour and he] is the worst one.”
Opelka continued, “It shouldn’t be one-sided traffic, if you want to be disrespectful to me, I can’t just be a punching bag and if the ref isn’t doing his job and he penalizes me, it is not a good look. It almost changed the outcome of the match. It was a big point and he didn’t do his job then penalized me for it, so he did two things wrong. I hope the ATP penalizes him, maybe sideline him for a few tournaments.”
THIS is what Reilly Opelka said, in case you need a refresher https://t.co/HTf4uEXt2x
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) August 25, 2025
Opelka was later fined $40,000 for his remarks and has built a reputation for collecting fines. His largest penalty came at Indian Wells, where he refused to continue playing until the stadium lights were fixed and called chair umpire Nacho Forcadell an “idiot,” costing him $24,600. He was also fined another $30,000 for a lengthy medical timeout.
Allensworth has also been involved in other controversial moments. He was the umpire during Jack Draper’s victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the 2024 Cincinnati Open, which featured a disputed point. Additionally, he drew criticism from Andy Murray at the Geneva Open in 2024 for not stopping a match despite snowfall.
What Happened in Carlos Alcaraz’s Clash With the Umpire?
Carlos Alcaraz also clashed with Allensworth at the 2025 Cincinnati Open. The argument started when the umpire instructed Alcaraz to cover the logo on his water bottle because it conflicted with tournament sponsors.
Alcaraz refused to comply, arguing, “It wasn’t my fault, why do I have to cover it when it wasn’t my fault. So because it’s your fault I have to cover it. I doesn’t work like this, because it’s your fault and then I have to pay for that. No, I am not going to cover it.”
alcaraz beefing with the umpire and refusing to put away the evian water bottles ijbol run him his check rn @evianwater
pic.twitter.com/tkqndMuZ5h
— . (@stcrnights) August 14, 2025
Coincidentally, Opelka and Alcaraz are set to face each other in the first round of the US Open. Both players recently had heated encounters with umpire Allensworth, and their matches highlight the growing tension between top tennis players and the sport’s officials.
