Sports
US Open photographer claims he’s ‘totally innocent’ after being at center of player’s meltdown
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The photographer at the center of a tennis star’s meltdown at the 2025 U.S. Open says he is a “victim and totally innocent” as his credential for the tournament has been revoked.
Selcuk Acar, a freelance journalist and photojournalist, spoke with the Daily Mail after causing Daniil Medvedev to lose it on the court at Louis Armstrong Stadium while facing Benjamin Bonzi in the first round on Sunday night.
An incident occurred during the third set when Acar stepped onto the court with Bonzi serving. Bonzi missed the first serve, but the match was paused as Acar was entering the court in between attempts.
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Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, gestures after a photographer ran onto the court during a match against Benjamin Bonzi, of France, in the first-round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Chair umpire Greg Allensworth gave Bonzi another first serve, which at that point, was for match point against the 13th-seeded Medvedev.
Medvedev lost it on Allensworth, and a nearly seven-minute delay ensued with both men going back and forth on the court.
TENNIS STAR DANIIL MEDVEDEV MELTS DOWN AT US OPEN IN MIDST OF UPSET LOSS
“This incident has already turned into a lynching, and although I’m innocent, I’ve suffered greatly,” Acar told the outlet. “If there’s a camera there, if it’s monitored, it will show that I returned to the official twice and didn’t enter.”
Acar added that a security official told him, “The match is stopped,” before he entered onto the court. He also said he has covered numerous high-profile events over his career, including Presidential visits to Europe and NATO summits. Acar also claimed to have done work at the FIFA World Cup.
“I’m not a photojournalist that can [make] such a mistake,” he said.
Nonetheless, the United States Tennis Association revoked Acar’s credential for the tournament.
“The photographer had been instructed to stay in place by US Open security,” they said in a statement, per The New York Post.
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, bottom right, reacts next to chair umpire, Greg Allensworth, left, after a photographer ran onto the court during a match against Benjamin Bonzi, of France, in the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
“The photographer disregarded these instructions and improperly entered the court between serves on match point. The Chair Umpire also instructed the photographer to immediately sit down, and these instructions were also disregarded. The photographer’s credential was revoked for the 2025 US Open.”
Meanwhile, Medvedev was going ballistic on Allensworth, and tried to get the crowd involved as well. With his arms raised in the air, he was encouraging them to boo.
“He wants to go home guys,” Medvedev was heard saying. “He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
After the match, Medvedev said that it wasn’t Acar’s situation that bothered him, but rather the decision to re-do Bonzi’s first serve.
“I was not upset with the photographer. I was upset with the decision,” Medvedev said. “The delay from the photographer was probably four seconds and a half. I’m not sure it’s enough for a (first) serve.”
Bonzi, on the other hand, thought his opponent crossed the line.
“I mean, the rule is the rule. The guy went on the court between two serves,” Bonzi said. “I mean, it’s not my call to say first serve. And I think, yes, Daniil started it, and he put oil on the fire.”
Daniil Medvedev reacts after losing the first two sets against Benjamin Bonzi of France during their Men’s Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 24, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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While Medvedev was able to salvage the third set, and the fourth, Bonzi was able to put him away in the fifth set to secure the massive upset of the Russian veteran.
The Frenchman won the match 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4 over Medvedev to move on to the second round, where he’ll face American Marcos Giron.
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Dolphins GM Chris Grier says fans threatened his family in string of vile emails after team’s lackluster year
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The Miami Dolphins finished last season with an 8-9 record and failed to qualify for the NFL playoffs. The disappointing year sparked ire from some of the Dolphins’ faithful.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier spoke to the media on Wednesday, the day after trimming the team’s roster to 53 by the league’s deadline. Grier spoke about the general structure of the roster entering the 2025 campaign and also touched on the status of specific players as Week 1 draws closer.
But the media session took a turn when Grier revealed fan angst had resulted in emails targeting his children.
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General manager Chris Grier of the Miami Dolphins looks on prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“If I’m out, people have always been respectful and nice, and they just say ‘Hey, keep going. Appreciate you.’ The guys to my face have been nice. I know there’s people that are upset… (but) that’s any job,” Grier said.
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Grier acknowledged the angst that last season’s ending sparked.
“And if I was comfortable and saying I felt what things are, then I’m an a–h— …because I’m not being realistic about where we are as a team and where things are going …after last season. I’m frustrated like [them] that we didn’t win enough games last year. I understand that, I don’t take things personally. When I’m out, people have generally been very positive and stuff to me.”
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier walks not the field prior to the game between the Miami Dolphins and the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Sept. 30, 2024. (Jasen Vinlove/Imagn Images)
“I’ve gotten some colorful emails from a couple of people…..[one] hoping my kids die of cancer,” Grier said. “That’s a fun one. That’s why I don’t take things very personal or real because other people have other issues and stuff in life.”
Aug 3, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, US; A general view of a Miami Dolphins helmet on the field during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. (Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)
Grier was elevated to the Dolphins’ general manager post in 2016. He joined the franchise as a scout in 2000.
As it relates to pressing roster matters, Grier confirmed that cornerback Cam Smith will start the regular season on the non-football injury list. Smith appeared in six games during the 2024 season.
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Grier gave a positive update on running back De’Von Achane’s availability for the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Achane has recently been contending with a calf injury.
“All indications for us is that Achane will be ready Week 1 to go,” Grier told reporters on Wednesday.
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FORT LAUDERDALE:
Lionel Messi scored twice late on as Inter Miami fought back to beat Orlando City 3-1 and reach the final of the Leagues Cup on Wednesday.
After missing two straight matches with a right thigh injury, Messi converted a penalty in the 77th minute to pull Inter level at 1-1 then combined with Jordi Alba to put the hosts ahead in the 88th.
Telasco Segovia added a third in injury time as Miami returned to the final of the Leagues Cup, the cross-border competition featuring teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga-MX.
Inter won it in 2023, Messi’s first season in MLS.
They will face reigning MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy or Seattle Sounders in Sunday’s final.
Orlando will play in a third-place game, and the top three finishers in the tournament earn berths in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
In a high-energy first half, Croatia’s Marco Pasalic silenced the crowd at Miami’s Chase Stadium with a goal in first-half added time.
Luis Muriel slipped a pass into the area and Maximiliano Falcon’s attempt to clear it instead saw the ball deflect back to Pasalic, who rifled a left-footed shot into the net.
Inter players appealed saying the ball hit Pasalic’s arm but VAR confirmed the goal.
Orlando, who had twice humbled their cross-state rivals this season, continued to stymie Inter in the second half.
Luis Suarez forced a save from Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese while Messi twice threatened in the area only to find himself swamped in a sea of defenders.
Inter coach Javier Mascherano was visibly frustrated as he watched from the stands, having received a red card during the quarter-final win over Tigres UANL.
Orlando lost some momentum in the 59th minute when Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez denied them a penalty shout after Sergio Busquets’ foul on Ivan Angulo.
And the momentum shifted irrevocably Miami’s way in the 74th minute when substitute Tadeo Allende drew a foul in the box.
David Brekalo’s challenge included a tug on Allende’s jersey and earned him a second yellow card.
He departed as Messi went to the spot, the Argentine great firing past Gallese into the lower right corner of the net.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi sparked joyous celebrations with his second goal 11 minutes later.
Orlando had won two prior matches against Miami this season by a combined 7-1 margin, including a 4-1 rout earlier this month.
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