WATCH: Daniil Medvedev Gets Point Penalty and Hits Umpire’s Chair in Frustration

World No.5 Daniil Medvedev defeats Diego Schwartzman in a drama-filled three-setter 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in Sydney to seal the Russia vs Argentina tie and qualify for the semifinals of the ATP Cup 2020. The Russian star received a point penalty as he hit the umpire’s chair in a major break down in the match.

Daniil Medvedev with a solid start

Both the players started the match confidently as the games went with the serve till the fifth game. However, Diego Schwartzman lost concentration while serving at 2-3 as he was broken at 15.

The Argentine looked to make a comeback into the set as he saved three set points while receiving to stay in the set at 4-5 and get the re-break. However, Daniil Medvedev closed the set 6-4 in 44 minutes with a break.

Diego Schwartzman calls Medvedev an ‘idiot’ in an animated set

In a replication of the opening set, both the players held their serve till 3-all with Schwartzman missing three break point opportunities on the Russian’s serve. The 27-year-old then broke Medvedev for the first time in the match at 4-3.

Before the break, Daniil Medvedev had a complete meltdown. He hit the umpire Mohamed Layhani’s chair twice with his racquet during a row over getting a previous code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct. Subsequently, he was handed with a second one followed by a point penalty.

The 23-year-old also exchanged some words with his opponent, when Schwartzman called him an ‘idiot’ after the spicy talk between the two.

Schwartzman then served out the set 6-4 in one hour after saving a breakpoint in a 10-minute long service game.

Medvedev seals the tie

There was very little to differentiate between the two players in the final set as they held their serves respectively till 3-4 with Medvedev leading. He then got the crucial break at in the next game before serving out the set 6-3 and winning the tie for Russia in 2 hours and 23 minutes.

“A few points of the match I thought I couldn’t do anything. I was so tired physically, Diego was playing amazing, I knew I just had to continue to fight and put balls in the court,” Medvedev said in the on-court interview.