A pair of birds briefly settled on the net during Daniil Medvedev's US Open fixture on Wednesday, prompting chair umpire Timo Janzen to call a let. At that point, Medvedev's opponent — American wildcard Gorzny — held a 30-15 advantage on his serve at 1-4 down in the second set.
Medvedev had taken the lead in the exchange when Janzen intervened and halted play. Medvedev clutched his head with both hands and approached the chair umpire, expressing that the situation was unacceptable, before returning to the baseline as Janzen announced to the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd that a let had been called owing to the birds and that the point would be replayed.
Medvedev raised no further objections throughout the contest, eventually securing a 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 scoreline to advance into the third round.
During the post-match on-court interview, Medvedev attributed his dissatisfaction to the delay in stopping play, noting that the birds had been visible to him immediately and that he had anticipated an immediate halt to the point. "Then we rallied for about 45 seconds, and the moment he landed the winning shot, they called a halt," he recounted, adding that he questioned why they had stopped. The rally had lasted 45 seconds. Medvedev said he accepted the outcome without further contest, acknowledging there was nothing to be done about it and describing the circumstances as unusual.
Medvedev expressed affection for the venue, noting satisfaction at advancing further into the tournament and extending his stay in New York. "I love this tournament, I love the US," he said, adding that Louis Armstrong Stadium holds a particular fondness for him.
Seven years prior, Medvedev conducted a post-match courtside interview at the venue that drew widespread attention following his third-round victory over Feliciano Lopez. He received an unsportsmanlike behaviour notice from officials, and spectators responded with jeers as he addressed the crowd. He subsequently told the crowd that their support had driven his victory, adding that their absence would likely have cost him the match. By the tournament's conclusion that year, the New York audience had warmed to him considerably, cheering him through to the final, where he was defeated by Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev claimed the US Open title two years later, in 2021. That title stands as the sole Grand Slam trophy in his collection.
His 2025 campaign has delivered inconsistent performances overall, yet he has progressed to the third round without dropping a set. Medvedev noted that he considers himself a contented person by nature, and that stringing together victories and finding genuine satisfaction in the quality of his on-court performance holds lasting value for him. He added that his overall aim is to find contentment and take pleasure in everyday life.
