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Why Daniil Medvedev threatened to retire during Rafael Jodar semi-final as angry footage emerges
Why Daniil Medvedev threatened to retire during Rafael Jodar semi-final as angry footage emerges

Daniil Medvedev threatened to retire from his semi-final clash with Rafael Jodar at the Shanghai Masters, weeks after Novak Djokovic took issue with a decision against Medvedev.

Djokovic was left seething at a "stupid" rule change during his quarter-final clash against Medvedev at the China Open, when he couldn't believe chair umpire Adel Nour allowed the Russian to replay the point after he did not stop his serve to make the request.

The legendary Serbian prevailed in that match after Medvedev was disqualified at 7-5, 5-4 down, after hitting the ball into the crowd. He instantly apologised for that action and has since been involved in more controversy at the Shanghai Masters.

Why Daniil Medvedev threatened to retire during Rafael Jodar semi-final

During the semi-final of the ATP 1000 event, Medvedev threatened to retire from his clash with Jodar at 4-2, 40-40 in the first set after his opponent's cross-court forehand hit the line before hitting his forehand long.

The Russian's return was, indeed, called out before the video replay showed that Medvedev's forehand went long by a small margin. Yet, the world number six wasn't satisfied with that call and asked for a review of Jodar's forehand.

He believed the shot went wide, but umpire Nour tried to explain that they could only review the final point of the rally, resulting in an angry reaction.

“They showed the last one, Daniil [Medvedev]; this one was in. We cannot show this one. Daniil, according to protocol, the last shot is the only one that can be shown. We cannot show this now,” Nour said.

“It was the last shot of the rally. It was out… This is the last shot of the rally. I thought it was out; that’s why I missed. I’m just asking you to see the ball, that’s it,” Medvedev replied.

Medvedev and Nour then engaged in an almost comical back-and-forth as the former world number one threatened to retire from the match.

“But we cannot [show the replay], practically according to the protocol,” stated Nour.

“This is the last shot of the rally. I’m not moving; I can retire, I don’t care. The ATP gives me a fine anyway. I will retire; show me the ball,” Medvedev argued.

Medvedev was then shown the replay by Nour, and unsurprisingly, it showed that the Spaniard's forehand was in and he fairly lost the point.

Naomi Broady and Jonathan Overend in disbelief at Daniil Medvedev behaviour

Former professional tennis player Naomi Broady and presenter Jonathan Overend couldn't believe Medvedev's "ridiculous" reaction.

Speaking on Sky Sports coverage of the match, Broady said: "I would love him to call his bluff here,” after he threatened to retire.

“It wasn’t the last shot, Daniil; that’s the point. He’s wanting to see the penultimate shot of the rally, which he thinks is out, but, of course, it was called in by the automated system,” argued Overend.

“Oh my goodness, you can’t just say it’s protocol to only show the last point and then buckle when he threatens to retire. It’s a bit ridiculous. Threatened to retire from the match if they didn’t show that image on the screen. I mean, what?”

Medvedev ended up losing 6-3, 6-4 against the 20-year-old, who will play fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in tomorrow's final.

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