Australian Open: Daniil Medvedev launches rant at chair umpire during Stefanos Tsitsipas match

‘Are you stupid? You are so bad! You are… a small cat!’: Daniil Medvedev melts down in an explosive tirade at the umpire of his Australian Open semi-final, as he fumes at ‘coaching’ of Stefanos Tsitsipas from the stands – before going on to win!

  • Daniil Medvedev had a meltdown at the chair umpire during his semi-final match
  • He accused the father of Stefanos Tsitsipas of issuing instructions from his seat
  • Players are not allowed to receive coaching from their team during matches
  • The Russian demanded Jaume Campistol issue Tsitsipas with a code violation
  • He then called the umpire ‘a small cat’ as he left the court after second set 
  • But despite the row, Medvedev progressed to the final with four-set win 


Daniil Medvedev bizarrely described the chair umpire in his Australian Open semi-final as ‘a small cat’ during a furious rant in which he accused Stefanos Tsitsipas’s father of illegally coaching from the stands.

The Russian world No 2 was 5-4 down in the second set in Melbourne, having won the first, when he went into meltdown at the umpire Jaume Campistol between games.

Medvedev was angry that Apostolos Tsitsipas, part of his opponent’s coaching team, was allegedly passing on instructions to his son from his seat in the Rod Laver Arena.

But despite the outburst, Medvedev defeated Tsitsipas in four sets and will face Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s Australian Open final. 

Daniil Medvedev ranted at chair umpire Jaume Campistol during his Australian Open semi-final, calling him ‘a small cat’ after accusing Stefanos Tsitsipas’s father of coaching him

The Russian launched into the tirade between points during the contest on Rod Laver Arena

The Russian launched into the tirade between points during the contest on Rod Laver Arena

He yelled at the umpire: ‘His father can talk every point? Are you stupid? His father can talk every point?’

Then raising his voice, Medvedev shouted: ‘His father can talk every point? Answer my question, will you answer my question?

‘Can you answer my question please? Can his father talk every point?

Oh my God, oh my God, you are so bad, man. How can you be so bad in the semi-final of a Grand Slam? Look at me, I am taking to you.’

At this point, Campistol turns around the acknowledged the ranting Medvedev and asks ‘what do you want?’

Medvedev shouted at umpire Campistol until he turned around and acknowledged him

Medvedev shouted at umpire Campistol until he turned around and acknowledged him

Medvedev felt Apostolos Tsitsipas was issuing instructions to son Stefanos from the stands

Medvedev felt Apostolos Tsitsipas was issuing instructions to son Stefanos from the stands 

Medvedev replies: ‘To give him a caution because his father is talking to him.’

Campistol makes nothing of the request and calls ‘time’ for the players to return to the court.

The row continued after Medvedev walked off court for a comfort break at the end of the second set as he described the umpire as ‘a small cat’.

Members of a players’ team are not permitted to coach or issue instructions from the sidelines during matches and Tsitsipas received a code violation during both his third round win over Benoit Paire and in the fourth round against Taylor Fritz. 

Medvedev's angry rant came during the second set of the contest in Melbourne

Medvedev’s angry rant came during the second set of the contest in Melbourne

The Russian's 'small cat' comment to the umpire came as he left the court after the second set

The Russian’s ‘small cat’ comment to the umpire came as he left the court after the second set

It isn’t Medvedev’s first rant of the Australian Open. He blasted the Melbourne crowd for booing him during his second round win over Australian Nick Kyrgios and questioned their intelligence.

‘It’s not anger, it’s a little bit disappointing. I suppose it’s normal especially when you play a home favourite and not just the home favourite but Nick,’ he told Eurosport.

‘I had a break point, second serve, and people are cheering like I’ve already made a double fault. And that’s just disappointing because it’s not everybody who is doing it, but those who are doing it probably have a low IQ.’ 

Russian star Daniil Medvedev blasted the Australian Open crowd for booing him on Thursday

Russian star Daniil Medvedev blasted the Australian Open crowd for booing him on Thursday 

Watch the Australian Open exclusively live on discovery+, Eurosport and Eurosport app 



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