Daniil Medvedev, the former world No. 1 and 2021 US Open champion, unleashed a storm of frustration on the hard courts of Washington, D.C., during the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, captivating fans and sparking controversy. In a dramatic quarterfinal clash against Corentin Moutet, a French lucky loser ranked outside the top 50, Medvedev suffered a stunning upset, falling 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that culminated in one of the most memorable meltdowns of his career. As the final point sealed his fate, Medvedev hurled his racket toward the stands and smashed metal water bottles, leaving spectators gasping and booing as he exited the court. This fiery outburst, set against the backdrop of a high-stakes match, underscores the Russian’s intense passion and the mounting pressure of a challenging 2025 season.
The match itself was a rollercoaster, marked by blistering rallies and high drama. Medvedev, seeded eighth and ranked No. 14, stormed through the first set 6-1, showcasing the aggressive baseline game that has earned him 20 ATP titles. But Moutet, a 26-year-old wildcard who entered the main draw after Holger Rune’s withdrawal, turned the tide with his unorthodox style and relentless grit. Despite battling cramps and a one-hour lightning delay in the third set, Moutet leveled the score by taking the second set 6-4. “The hard courts are Medvedev’s best surface,” he had said before the match, expressing confidence in his preparation after a disappointing Wimbledon first-round exit. Yet, the oppressive Washington heat, which prompted a medical timeout for Medvedev at 2-4 in the second set, seemed to sap his focus. “I’m feeling ready and in good shape,” he had insisted, but Moutet’s resilience proved too much.
The decisive moment came in a breathtaking final rally, one of the year’s most electrifying exchanges. With Moutet serving at 5-4, 40-30 in the third set, the two traded blistering shots across the court, Medvedev scrambling to stay alive. As he overhit a forehand at the net, Moutet collapsed in jubilation, securing the biggest win of his career and his first ATP 500 semifinal. Medvedev’s response was visceral. “He launched it in the air, towards the crowd, flying past the umpire’s chair,” an onlooker described, noting how a staff member ducked to avoid the soaring racket. Moments later, Medvedev grabbed a metal water bottle, slamming it repeatedly against the court, the metallic crashes echoing through the stadium. “A loud crash could be heard as the first bottle was destroyed, prompting shrieks from the crowd,” another witness recounted. The second bottle followed, drawing a chorus of boos as Medvedev stormed off.
This outburst wasn’t Medvedev’s first brush with controversy. Earlier in 2025, he smashed a net camera during a five-set Australian Open win over world No. 418 Kasidit Samrej, later joking, “The camera was very, very strong, because my racket didn’t handle the damage, but the camera did.” At the 2024 Laver Cup, he narrowly escaped disqualification after tossing his racket toward the crowd during a loss to Ben Shelton. “I didn’t want to throw it the way I threw it. I got lucky. I didn’t touch anyone,” he said, acknowledging his fortune in avoiding harsher penalties. These incidents paint a picture of a player whose fiery temperament often overshadows his brilliance, especially in moments of defeat. “I get angry, frustrated. This time completely with myself,” Medvedev admitted after a similar meltdown at the 2024 ATP Finals, where he juggled his racket in a bizarre display against Taylor Fritz.
For Moutet, the victory was a career-defining moment. The Frenchman, who had lost to Medvedev in their only prior meeting, leveled their head-to-head at 1-1 and soared to a live ranking of No. 46, his first time in the top 50. “The moment Moutet reached the biggest semi-final of his career!” one fan posted on X, capturing the euphoria of his upset over the Russian star. Moutet’s path to the semifinals, where he faced seventh seed Alex de Minaur, was a testament to his tenacity, having battled through qualifying and defeated players like Dan Evans en route. For Medvedev, the loss marked another setback in a turbulent year, with early exits at all three 2025 Grand Slams—second round at the Australian Open, first round at Roland Garros, and first round at Wimbledon. “You cannot win all the time. It does bother me,” he confessed at a Citi DC Open press conference, reflecting on his struggles. “After Wimbledon, I was sitting there, and I actually felt like I didn’t play that bad.”
As Medvedev looks to the Cincinnati Open and US Open, his outburst in Washington serves as both a wake-up call and a reminder of his complex persona—part genius, part provocateur. Fans on X were divided, with some calling his actions “disgraceful” and others seeing it as a raw display of passion. “Medvedev lost his marbles,” one post read, while another quipped, “He’s invented tennis bowling, tossing his racket at water bottles.” With his last title coming in Rome 2023, Medvedev’s hunger for redemption is palpable. As he resets for the hard-court swing, the tennis world watches to see if he can channel his fire into victories rather than viral meltdowns.
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
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