Racquets smashed, tempers flare as Medvedev suffers 6-0, 6-0 meltdown

Medvedev's shocking double-bagel loss to Berrettini

Daniil Medvedev, the world number 10 and seventh seed, was handed a humbling 6-0, 6-0 defeat by Italian Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday. The loss, which took just 49 minutes, is the first time the former world number one has failed to win a single game in a professional match, according to multiple reports.

Berrettini, a former Wimbledon finalist now ranked 90th after a series of injuries, was playing on a wildcard invitation from tournament organizers. He said the victory was "one of the best performances of my life," as quoted by several outlets. "I think I missed three shots for the match," Berrettini told reporters. "It's not easy, especially with a tricky player like Daniil. The game plan was perfect, and my weapons were working."

Key claims

• Medvedev lost to Berrettini 6-0, 6-0 in the Monte Carlo Masters second round. (Reported by all three outlets)
• Medvedev made 30 unforced errors and served five double faults, according to Al Jazeera. ABC Australia reports 28 unforced errors and five double faults — a slight discrepancy.
• Medvedev smashed his racquet multiple times, with ABC Australia reporting six smashes and Al Jazeera reporting four. Both describe his frustration boiling over in the second set.
• Berrettini described the win as "one of the best performances of my life." (Reported by all three outlets)
• Alexander Zverev beat Cristian Garin 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. (Reported by all three outlets)
• Zverev will face Zizou Bergs in the next round. (Reported by Al Jazeera and RFI)
• Joao Fonseca became the youngest player to reach the last 16 in the Masters since Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet. (Reported by RFI)
• Alex de Minaur's potential quarterfinal opponent was affected by Lorenzo Musetti's loss, as reported by ABC Australia.

Coverage comparison

The three sources agree on the core facts of Medvedev's loss and Berrettini's performance, but each outlet emphasized different angles. ABC Australia focused on the racquet-smashing incident and the emotional aftermath, noting that the 30-year-old threw his racquet into the clay and finally placed it calmly in a bin. Al Jazeera highlighted the statistical breakdown, mentioning 30 unforced errors and five double faults, and described the loss as surprising. RFI, meanwhile, led with Zverev's comeback win, framing the German's rally from 4-0 down in the third set as the main storyline, with Medvedev's match as a secondary development.

Zverev's late comeback

Alexander Zverev, the third seed, avoided an early exit with a dramatic 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin. Zverev lost the first four games of the final set and appeared to be heading for defeat when Garin served for a 5-0 lead. But Zverev clawed back, breaking Garin as he tried to serve out the match at 5-3, and eventually sealed the win after Garin squandered several chances to force a tiebreak. The match lasted two hours and 50 minutes.

"My level wasn't there at all," Zverev said, as quoted by RFI. "It's the first clay-court match in 11 months and I didn't have much time to prepare. I wasn't feeling the ball so I didn't feel like I could hit aggressive shots. But the most important thing is to get the win."

Zverev, who is chasing the clay-court Masters 1000 title, will next face unseeded Belgian Zizou Bergs, according to Al Jazeera and RFI.

Other notable results

In other matches, Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca became the youngest player to reach the last 16 in a Masters tournament since Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet achieved the feat, as reported by RFI. Fonseca defeated Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, and will now face Berrettini, who advanced after his win over Medvedev.

Lorenzo Musetti, the fourth seed, was eliminated in a surprise defeat to local Monegasque player Valentin Vacherot, losing 7-6 (8-6), 7-5, as reported by ABC Australia. This result had implications for Australia's Alex de Minaur, who had been expected to potentially face Musetti in the quarterfinals. De Minaur will instead play Alexander Blockx in the last 16.

Perspectives

• Medvedev's camp: No comments from Medvedev or his team have been reported. The focus has been on his visible frustration and the rarity of the double-bagel loss.
• Berrettini's view: Berrettini expressed delight and credited his game plan and execution for the victory, acknowledging Medvedev's tricky playing style.
• Zverev's outlook: Zverev was candid about his subpar level but emphasized the importance of winning despite poor form.
• Media interpretation: The loss is framed as a significant upset, with ABC Australia noting it was only the fifth time a top-10 player lost 6-0, 6-0 since ATP rankings began in 1973.