The photographer who disrupted a US Open match on Sunday night during Daniil Medvedev’s clash with Benjamin Bonzi claims he’s the one being wronged.
Selcuk Acar, an experienced freelance journalist and photojournalist, insisted to a media outlet that he did nothing inappropriate and believes he shouldn’t have lost his credentials.
While Bonzi was serving in the third set, Acar stepped onto the court, prompting an interruption of play.
Judge Greg Allensworth allowed Bonzi another first serve due to the delay, which infuriated the 13th seed, Medvedev, and the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
A rather lengthy delay—lasting about 24 seconds—turned into a six-minute pause, during which Medvedev eventually won the third set, but Bonzi managed to take the match in five sets: 5-6, 3-7, 5-0, 6-7 (5), and finally 0-6, 6-4.
“I am a victim and completely innocent,” Acar told the outlet. “This situation has escalated into a sort of public outrage. I’m suffering here. If there’s a camera or monitoring in place, it shows I went back twice without entering.”
Acar claimed he was informed by security that the match would be paused, which led him to step on the court. He mentioned having covered significant events, from the FIFA World Cup to high-profile political summits.
“I’m a competent photojournalist; I wouldn’t make that kind of mistake,” he insisted.
The judge’s ruling appeared questionable since Bonzi had already missed his initial serve.
Medvedev confronted Allensworth in frustration, calling for the crowd’s support against the decision.
“Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking? What’s going on? He wants to leave. He’s paid to be here, not to sit for an hour,” he shouted.
Medvedev eventually triumphed in the fourth set, but then faltered afterward.
“I don’t know. It was wild,” Bonzi reflected in a post-match interview when asked about the night’s events. “There might be new fans, but certainly some new non-fans too. The energy was intense. I appreciate everyone who was booing, and the cheer at the end of the fifth set meant a lot. It was indeed a crazy match.”
The USTA was contacted for statements regarding the incident.
