The Italian Open clash between Joao Fonseca and Hamad Medjedovic turned chaotic as the Brazilian’s passionate fans created a hostile atmosphere, leading to tension and a dramatic post-match reaction.
The third set of the match saw 19-year-old Fonseca stop play to complain to the umpire about Medjedovic talking before his second serve. The incident highlighted the pressure-cooker environment, as the young Brazilian tried to use crowd support to his advantage.
Before the next game, Medjedovic approached the umpire, visibly frustrated, and asked him to quiet the crowd. “Tell them to shut up and let me serve. I’ll play,” he said.
The umpire responded, “Listen… It’s gonna be loud. There’s gonna be some people talking. I’m trying my best to control them. Keep playing. You have to play,” reflecting the difficulty officials face in managing rowdy crowds.
Despite the distractions, Medjedovic kept his composure and secured a thrilling 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(1) victory to advance to the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event.
After the match, Medjedovic called for the crowd’s attention and mockingly performed a sleeping gesture, reminiscent of NBA star Steph Curry’s “night night” celebration, followed by sarcastically blowing kisses toward the stands, further fueling tension with Brazilian supporters.
The friction persisted even after the match. The Serbian sarcastically credited the vocal crowd for helping him stay focused in crucial moments. “The crowd helped me a lot. His fans helped me a lot. I think they were… I will not comment on it, but they helped me a lot. I think I was very, as some would say, ‘locked in’ after being down 6-5 in the 3rd. I was just quiet and wanted to give my best, and that’s it. I’m really happy to be through,” he said.
Medjedovic will now face Mariano Navone in the third round of the Italian Open, aiming to build momentum.
This is not the first time Fonseca’s fan support has turned chaotic. In 2025, Alex de Minaur taunted the Brazilian crowd at the Miami Open after overcoming a hostile atmosphere to beat Fonseca in the fourth round, winning 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in a thrilling two-and-a-half-hour contest.