Daniil Medvedev put on 'naughty list' after $100,000+ fines & multiple controversies in 2025 by American ex-pro

American former ATP star Steve Johnson recently picked Daniil Medvedev as his choice for his Christmas 'naughty list'. Johnson's pick stemmed from multiple on-court meltdowns and outbursts from the Russian in the 2025 tennis season, which resulted in several hefty fines for the former World No. 1.

At the Australian Open in the beginning of the year, Medvedev broke a small net camera during his first-round match with his racket. In the second round, where the Russian was shockingly ousted by American teen prodigy Learner Tien, he lost his cool several times, and as a result of these violations, he was slapped with a whopping $76,000 fine.

Later, at the US Open, during hs first-round loss to Benjamin Bonzi, Daniil Medvedev lashed out at the chair umpire after a photographer bizarrely walked on to the court as the match was being played. The Russian's antics brought proceedings to a grinding halt for several minutes, and following the conclusion of the contest, he took his frustrations out on his racket. A $42,500 fine followed.

Next, at the China Open, Medvedev, struggling physically with cramps during his semifinal clash against Tien, was controversially given a 'best effort' code violation by chair umpire Adel Nour. Initially, it was thought that the Russian would be fined up to $40,000 for the violation, but eventually, the ATP decided not to fine him.

On the back of these controversies, former World No. 21 Steve Johnson, picking Medvedev for his Christmas 'naughty list, said on a recently-released episode of the Nothing Major podcast:

"It’s gonna be (Daniil) Medvedev, not for his off-court antics, but his on-court antics. You rack up a couple of hundred thousand dollars’ worth of fines across the year, you’re on the naughty list. Australia had a big one. China Open had a big one. The US Open had a big one." (from 17:52)

"I'm pretty different in life to on court" - Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev at the 2025 Paris Masters (Source: Getty)

Earlier this year, Daniil Medvedev sat down for an interview with BBC Sport. Here, the Russian explained that it's his competitive nature and the adrenaline rush he experiences during matches that sometimes leads to his controversial on-court moments. He maintained that off the court, he rarely loses his cool, saying:

"Off the court it is rare there is a situation where my adrenaline goes through the roof. When I'm on the court I hate to lose; I love to win. My first goal is to win the match, so it brings a lot of adrenaline out and it brings all the energy out. Sometimes it is a good energy. Sometimes it is a bad one. When I'm talking to you I have no adrenaline in a good way - we're not competing for something. That's why I'm pretty different in life to on court."

Daniil Medvedev's final competitive outing of the 2025 tennis season came at the Paris Masters; a quarterfinal defeat at the hands of Alexander Zverev.