MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Daniil Medvedev used his racket to smash a tiny camera attached to the net at the Australian Open while he was trailing someone ranked 418th before eventually avoiding a monumental upset and winning 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.

In an epic meltdown, former World No 1 Daniil Medvedev destroyed his racquet and net camera In Frustration after losing a point against Thailand's Kasidit Samrej. The Russian was booed by the Melbourne crowd after the incident.

Medvedev, who lost to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the back-to-back finals in 2021 and 2022, respectively, and then to Jannik Sinner last year, took the first set against his Samrej 6-2

Daniil Medvedev earns code violation for racket abuse before rallying past wild card entrant; Taylor Fritz carries U.S. banner forward.

Medvedev's wobble began in earnest when he squandered four break points at 3-3 midway through the third set, with Samrej then breaking in the next