India, Aug. 25 -- Daniil Medvedev broke his silence on the on-court meltdown during his brutal US Open first-round exit on Sunday night against Benjamin Bonzi. The former world No. 1, who admitted that he is expecting a hefty fine for his outburst at the umpire, blamed the crowd for the lengthy delay during the match's third set. Medvedev lost 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 - his third straight round-one defeat in a Slam this year and a first at the US Open since his main draw debut in the tournament in 2017.

The incident happened when Bonzi was on match point in the third set at 5-4. After his first serve hit the net, chair umpire Greg Allensworth gave the Frenchman a first serve instead of a second, explaining that a photographer had inter...