Daniil Medvedev smashes water bottle, flings racquet after loss to Corentin Moutet
Medvedev claimed the first set 6-1 before capitulating and dropping the next two 4-6, 4-6. Medvedev has been ranked No. 1 previously but is currently world No 14, his lowest spot in more than six years.
Even before the outburst, there was drama in the air in Washington as the game was suspended for an hour due to lightning in the area. At that stage, Moutet was leading Medvedev 1-6, 6-4, 5-4. When play restarted, the Frenchman returned to defeat Medvedev. The Russian made three double faults in his final service game on Friday before his outburst.
Drama til the bitter end 😱
The moment @moutet99 reached the biggest semi-final of his career! #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/Z7Y8edPyrd
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 25, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
While the Russian left the court angry at himself, the Frenchman will advance to his first semi-final above the ATP 250 level.
The ATP website noted that while both players had struggled in the hot conditions in Washington, Medvedev had needed a medical timeout mid game at 2-4, 15/15 in the second set due to heat stress.
You can always recognize Russian psychopaths, even when they compete 'without a flag.'
Given how fragile the Russian economy is, smashing rackets after humiliating losses has gotten too expensive. So Medvedev switched to bottles instead. pic.twitter.com/sHlx6M10tj
— Victoria (@victoriaslog) July 25, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The hard courts are Medvedev's best surface.
'Usually, this is the most important part of the season for me,' Medvedev was quoted as saying by The Associated Press just before his defeat to Moutet on Friday. 'And this year, it's really important for me, because I didn't have the best year. I had a lot of time after Wimbledon, so I'm feeling ready and I feel in good shape.'
Asked why he prefers the hard courts to other surfaces, he said: 'A lot of different things. My ball goes through the air the most. My serve goes faster. And this year, the courts seem pretty fast. On the ATP lately, the courts seem to only get slower and slower. But here it's super fast. I like the way it plays. It's one thing to like the way it plays and it's another thing to win. But I do feel like I can do big things.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Vitali Kravtsov is back with Vancouver Canucks following KHL breakout as Patrik Allvin supports revival
Vitali Kravtsov (via Getty Images) Vitali Kravtsov is returning to the Vancouver Canucks—and this time, General Manager Patrik Allvin is fully committed to the 25-year-old winger's NHL resurgence. A career-resurrecting performance in the KHL earned him a one-year, two-way contract, with a return to a team that once saw him as a building block for the future. With big-bullet endorsements from the front office, Vancouver is sending a message that it believes again in Vitali Kravtsov's promise. Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin praises Vitali Kravtsov after KHL career-high season Veteran ninth-overall selection of the 2018 NHL Draft, Vitali Kravtsov, is coming back to the Vancouver Canucks on the strength of two quality seasons with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL. The Russian right wing scored 27 goals and recorded 31 assists in 66 games during the 2024-25 season and finished inside the top ten both in goals and points overall. Though Vitali Kravtsov floundered in trying to establish a solid role in his initial stint in the NHL, with stops with the New York Rangers and Canucks, his play in Russia reappeared on Vancouver's radar. This is the team's first significant roster adjustment since signing Evander Kane earlier this offseason. CANUCKS MAKE A PUZZLING SIGNING: VITALI KRAVTSOV BACK TO VANCOUVER 'Vitali had a strong season in the KHL and was an impact player for his team,' said Patrik Allvin, via Rob Williams of Daily Hive. 'In his two seasons in Russia, he has worked hard on his game, and we look forward to seeing where Vitali is at when he comes to training camp in Penticton.' The Canucks are not only expecting to capitalize on Kravtsov's goal-scoring revival but also making a calculated gamble—hoping his increased maturity, physicality, and fresh confidence will pay off. A second chance—or the last one? At 25, this may be a make-or-break point in Vitali Kravtsov's career. Once regarded as an elite prospect with premium offensive skills, his failure to consistently translate to NHL play forced earlier exits from North America. Yet development isn't always a straight line, and time in the KHL has remolded his game and mentality. This year, things are more moderate. A one-year, two-way contract provides Vancouver with flexibility, but it also places Kravtsov in a "prove-it" role. If he can bring his KHL production into the NHL—even as a middle-six contributor—he might finally get established in the league. Also read: Anton Khudobin announces NHL retirement following 14-year goalie career Whether Vitali Kravtsov becomes a breakout narrative or a warning will be up to him. With Patrik Allvin's open endorsement and a wide-open training camp, the spotlight is back on the once-touted winger—and the stakes are greater than ever. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
Paul Pogba resurfaces at Monaco after sweet-salty first stint and doping ban
In the quaint little village of La Turbie in France, where AS Monaco's performance centre is just a stone's throw away from France boss Didier Deschamps' residence, former French star Paul Pgba is readying for a low key return to football in October. Handed a four-year doping ban in February 2024, it was reckoned that would be the last of the mercurial Frenchman to be heard. But with his ban reduced on appeal to 18 months last October, there was speculation where he would head to, United States, Saudi Arabia or Japan, or France? Pogba put pen to paper for a two-year deal in June, that would mark his return since September 2023 after his suspension ended March. The 32-year-old first invit3d interest frim Marseille, reported BBC. 'We thought about [signing Pogba], we wanted to do it,' said Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia in February. 'The problem is, if we want to bring in a Pogba, who is not yet fit, does it make sense to alter the balance?' Monaco dived in securing termination of his Juventus contract. The French club, were balancing out the squad's age profile after their academy products, Maghnes Akliouche, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Soungoutou Magassa making first team alongside sub-20 recruits George Ilenikhena, Christian Mawissa and Lamine Camara. After experienced players, Wissam Ben Yedder and Guillermo Maripan, left, director Thiago Scuro went looking for experience. 'My understanding is that, in the summer, with the goals that we have, we were becoming too young,' the Brazilian told BBC. 'The next step that we see is getting the performance players on board. That is the challenge.' In mid-May, Pogba met with manager Adi Hutter and president Dmitry Rybolovlev, and was slotted to play alongside another pro, former England defender Eric Dier, 'We want to keep our [youth-centric] strategy, balance it a little but not step away from it,' added Scuro to BBC about Les Monegasques' plans. While Pogba was keen to play against his formative club, Le Havre, on the opening day of the season, Scuro called it unrealistic. 'I can guarantee he won't be on the pitch against Le Havre. We are here to be realistic. We expect a three-month process,' he told BBC. When he was unveiled, more than half of the Monaco shirts ordered were printed with the World Cup winner's name, while social media content surrounding his arrival gained 400 million impressions, reported BBC. President of the league, Vincent Labrune said, 'The league will benefit not only from his talent and his charisma, but also from his international standing.' Pogba has several controversies. An extortion attempt saw him forced to make an admission following accusations from his brother, Mathias, that he had used a witch doctor to place a curse on Kylian Mbappe before PSG's Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United in 2019. The extortion dated back to the midfielder's time at Old Trafford. In March 2022 he was kidnapped by masked men, who demanded a payment of 13m euros (£11.3m). Pogba was keen to leave the difficult chapter behind. 'It is all linked,' he said at his presentation, which he began by explaining his tears upon signing for Monaco. 'If the mind is good, it will go well on the pitch. It is very rare to see me cry like that, so I hope you enjoyed it. There were so many images that came into my mind. We know the doping story, my injury… everything came back to me during the signing and I just couldn't hold it back. It was a moment of joy.' 'I spoke with multiple people (during his wilderness) who helped me to see things in the present, to not think about the past or the future,' he added. 'I wanted my kids to see me on the pitch – my dream is to see my kids celebrate one of my goals with a dab,' he joked.
NDTV
21 hours ago
- NDTV
Rangers Move Closer To Champions League Qualification With Win Over Viktoria Plzen
Rangers took a step closer to the Champions League proper by beating Czech side Viktoria Plzen 3-0 in their third round qualification first leg tie on Tuesday. A Djeidi Gassama brace either side of a Cyriel Dessers spot-kick at Ibrox put Rangers firmly in control ahead of next week's return fixture in the Czech Republic. The winners of the tie will face either Austria's Red Bull Salzburg or Belgium's Club Brugge in the play-off for a spot in the league phase. The two goalscorers on the night combined for the hosts' opener in the 15th minute as Dessers laid the ball off to Gassama before the Frenchman took a touch and finished coolly. Dessers then doubled Rangers' advantage on the stroke of half-time by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from 12 yards after new signing Oliver Antman went down in the box under Matej Vydra's challenge. Gassama gave Rangers the cushion they desired six minutes after the interval as he nodded in his fourth goal in qualifying this campaign. Elsewhere, Swedes Malmo played out a goalless stalemate at home to Copenhagen. Wednesday's qualification ties will see Salzburg host Brugge, while Portugal's Benfica travel to Ligue 1 outfit Nice and Feyenoord of the Netherlands play Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce.
