"I said something in Russian, it wasn’t over the line" - Daniil Medvedev denies chanting 'f**k you' to umpire over contentious call in Wimbledon SF

Daniil Medvedev has clarified his remarks directed at the chair umpire after a controversial call during his semifinal clash against Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. Although it appeared that the Russian had launched an expletive-laden tirade at the umpire, Medvedev insisted that he hadn't said anything too harsh.

In a rematch of last year's Wimbledon semifinal, defending champion Alcaraz emerged victorious against Medvedev once again, claiming a 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over the Russian after a riveting two-hour and 55-minute battle.

The duo's thrilling clash also took a controversial turn when the World No. 5 had the opportunity to seal the opening set while serving at 5-4. However, Alcaraz, who held a crucial break point at 30-40, pulled off a brilliant drop shot. Although Medvedev scrambled to reach the ball, chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled it a double bounce, allowing the 21-year-old to level the set at 5-5.

Infuriated over the call, Daniil Medvedev hit out at the chair umpire, seemingly chanting:

"F**k you! F**k you! F**k you!"

The Russian's expletive-laden outburst prompted the chair umpire to call for the tournament supervisor's intervention. The 28-year-old received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct but avoided a default.

In his post-match press conference, Daniil Medvedev clarified that he had actually been speaking in Russian. While the World No. 5 admitted that his words were unpleasant, he insisted that they didn't cross the line.

"I don’t know if it was double bounce or not. I thought no but it was tricky. The thing is once long ago at Roland Garros against Cilic, I lost. And she didn’t see that it was one bounce. So I had this in my mind and I thought again… against me. I said something in Russian. Not pleasant but it wasn’t over the line. So I got a code for it," Daniil Medvedev said.

The 28-year-old emphasized that he was never worried about the threat of being defaulted, since his words weren't excessively inappropriate. He also advocated for the use of the challenge system in the case of double bounces to prevent such disputes.

"Not at all because I didn’t say anything too bad. The thing is I think it would be so much easier with the challenge system. Because the challenge system shows the bounce. If there was a bounce it would show it. And then if we use it, we would never have this situation. I don’t know why we don’t use the challenge system for the double bounce," he added.

"Here the meaning was better" - Daniil Medvedev denies hurling iconic 'small cat' accusation at chair umpire in Wimbledon SF

Daniil Medvedev (Source: Getty)

When asked whether he had hurled his famous 'small cat' accusation at the chair umpire in the Wimbledon semifinal, Daniil Medvedev clarified that he hadn't. He humorously remarked that his outburst during the clash against Carlos Alcaraz was nicer in comparison.

"No no no. I would say small cat the words are nice but the meaning was not nice. Here the meaning was better (laughing)," Daniil Medvedev said in the same press conference.

Frustrated by Stefanos Tsitsipas' father Apostolos' incessant talking in his semifinal clash against the Greek at the 2022 Australian Open, the World No. 5 had called the chair umpire a 'small cat' in a heated exchange. The Russian only recently discovered the explicit meaning behind his iconic phrase.

Daniil Medvedev will now shift his focus back to clay as he gears up for the Paris Olympics, commencing on July 26. Alcaraz, meanwhile, will take on Novak Djokovic in a rematch of last year's Wimbledon final, aiming to win his second consecutive title at SW19.