By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, April 29, 2024
The ATP Tour isn’t the Secret Society.
Still, Daniil Medvedev sarcastically sensed a conspiracy cover-up when the chair umpire deferred his request to close the retractable roof in his 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3 Madrid win over Sebastian Korda today.
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Medvedev repeatedly cited the Illuminati in a debate with the chair umpire.
As a light rain fell during the changeover to start the second set, Medvedev pointed out an obvious disparity—the chair umpire was dry beneath an overhang while players were getting wet—and requested the roof over Arantxa Sanchez Stadium be closed.
"You are fine with umbrella. We’re aren’t with the rain. Maybe close the roof, no?” Medvedev told chair umpire Nacho Forcadell.
The chair umpire replied roof closing is not his call.
That response did not exactly appease Medvedev, who shot back: “Okay, so call someone whose decision is it. You said it’s not your decision, call me someone whose decision it is."
Forcadell answered “they” make the decision on closing the retractable roof prompting Medvedev to play the conspiracy card.
“Who’s they?” Medvedev countered. “Illuminati? Illuminati?”
Devoted fans will recall Medvedev is a master of creating chaos near the chair umpire’s seat.
Back in 2017, Medvedev infamously ended a Wimbledon defeat tossing coins toward the chair umpire.
At the 2018, Miami Open, Medvedev nearly came to blows with nemesis Stefanos Tsitsipas calling the Greek out on court.
In citing the Illuminati today, Medvedev solidified his status as must-see TV performer even when the ball is not in play.
No comment from the Illuminati as of yet on Medvedev's remarks.
Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty