Shocking moment 'hugely frustrated' Daniil Medvedev smashes net camera with racquet as he loses cool at Australian Open

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Daniil Medvedev could not contain his anger as he lashed out at the net during his first-round match at the Australian Open. The Russian, trailing in the third set against the Thai player Kasidit Samrej, found himself two set-points down after Samrej's net cord, which forced the world No. 5 into the net, before Samrej wrong-footed him with a passing shot to tee up a chance to take the third set.

Watch as 'hugely frustrated' Medvedev breaks net camera with racquet

Video credit: TNT Sports

Daniil Medvedev lashed out at the net as he cursed his luck during his first-round match at the Australian Open.

Medvedev, the world No. 5, was down 5-3 in the third set of his opening match against Kasidit Samrej of Thailand on Rod Laver Arena with the score at one-set-all.

In an extraordinary exchange at 30-15, Samrej began to dictate with his backhand from the back of the court, forcing Medvedev to scurry from side-to-side, before a Samrej forehand clipped the net fortuitously, as Medvedev desperately changed direction and charged towards the net.

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He showed great hands to pick up the short ball and scoop it deep into the Samrej forehand corner, but the Thai dug out a supreme forehand passing shot to set up two set points.

Medvedev could not contain his fury at his misfortune and proceeded to smack the net with his racquet numerous times, cueing booing from the Australian Open crowd and a code violation from the umpire.

"Well, that kind of said it all, didn't it," said commentator Barry Millns on Eurosport. "Medvedev is hugely frustrated.

"Well, there's been a build-up, hasn't there," said co-commentator Lucie Ahl. "That's where the camera is, isn't it! I'm not sure that camera will work anymore."

Medvedev, the fifth seed, lost the third set, finding himself two-sets-to-one down and in a precarious position against an opponent growing in confidence and with nothing to lose.

The net camera shattered, with tournament staff having to use a dustpan and brush to sweep up any shards off the court, and work needed to be done during the changeover to try and get it back working again.

Watch staff sweep up mess after Medvedev smashes net camera

Video credit: TNT Sports

Despite his third-set frustrations, Medvedev had already produced some trademark brilliance earlier in the match, even making the chair umpire smile with his quality.

Down 40-15 at 1-1 in the second, the Russian kept the pressure on the Samrej serve with a stupendous forehand line winner, in reply to a Samrej putaway on top of the net.

Medvedev scrambled into his forehand corner to reach the ball, and managed to generate enough power for it to drop perfectly inside the tramline for a clean winner, to the amazement of everyone inside Rod Laver Arena.

"He's got him!" Millns exclaimed on Eurosport. "Of course he has, it's Medvedev. Even he can afford a smile.

"Samrej must have thought, 'I've got this point, I've played really well'. He has this, but he's not aware of where Medvedev is moving to. There he is!"

"It's unbelievable," replied Ahl.

Both commentators chuckled as the camera panned to the chair umpire, who had also broken into a smile at Medvedev's winner.

Watch as 'unbelievable' Medvedev play even makes umpire smile

Video credit: TNT Sports

Medvedev did manage to close out the match in the end, however, coming through 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-2, and the Russian could not believe the standard that Samrej had produced.

"I know that I play better when I play more tennis," he said post-match.

"I was like, ‘why play one hour 30, when I can play a minimum of three hours to feel my shots better and to have a good sensation'? In the second and third sets, I couldn’t touch the ball. Full power, everything in, I didn’t know what to do.

"I didn’t see this level [from him previously]. I was surprised. He plays like this every match, his life can be good. Money, girls, casinos … if he plays like this every match. If he doesn’t, then he’s not going to have it. Maybe not in tennis, but he’s going to make it otherwise. I wish he can play like this every match. If I’m facing him, no. You need to be consistent to be successful in tennis. I wish him that.

"I’m probably never going to play a lead-up tournament unless they move it, because I have two kids now. I want to stay home for Christmas and New Year. Even though I love Australia, every New Year in Australia is starting to get tough. I’d like to come here a bit later.

"It only gives me good energy. At the end of last year, I probably would have lost this match because I wouldn’t be able to concentrate and fight to the end. Now, it’s a new year, new energy. I’m happy to win this match."

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