Daniil Medvedev risks wrath of US Open chiefs with "pirate websites" admission

05 September 2023 , 10:57

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Daniil Medvedev has only dropped two sets in four matches at the US Open (Image: Getty)

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev has admitted to illegally streaming tennis matches, with the one-time Grand Slam winner hitting out at the unavailability of US Open matches on TV.

The 27-year-old will contest a US Open quarter-final match against eighth-seeded compatriot Andrey Rublev on Sept. 6 after dropping just two sets in the last four rounds. But when asked whether he'll be keeping an eye on other matches at the US Open, Medvedev has admitted that he has had to "find a way" to watch tennis with it not being readily available.

And by "find a way", Medvedev means the use of what he calls "pirate websites", which are illegal. "I guess in a lot of hotels they have Spectrum," Medvedev started. "I cannot watch it on TV anymore.

"I don't know if it's legal or illegal, but I have to find a way because I cannot watch it on TV. I got Internet, probably this, how you call it, pirate websites, I watch tennis there. I have no other choice.

"But at the same time sometimes I do want to watch some series. Do I put it on the phone or not? I watched Djokovic with [Laslo] Djere until it was 2:30 a.m. and then I had to go to sleep. Probably I'm going to watch it if they don't play too late, my phone if Spectrum don't find an agreement."

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Medvedev's admission could land him in hot water with US Open and/or tennis chiefs. But tennis fans have seemingly sided with the Russian on this issue. "There's never a clear info about tennis matches broadcast," one said. "Thanks for speaking it as it is, Daniil."

Another added: "Professional tennis players of all people are having to pirate tennis streams to watch. That’s how broken and bad of a user experience tennis broadcasting is."

Russian Medvedev has admitted to illegally streaming US Open tennis matches (Getty)

Luckily for UK tennis fans, they can catch every Grand Slam tournament match. "It must be frustrating," a fan said on X. "We are so lucky in the UK that we have full access to all tournaments and access to all matches from the 1st round, including doubles matches and sometimes even the qualifying rounds either through TennisTV, Amazon Prime, Discovery+ or Sky."

The winner of Medvedev-Rublev will go on to play either Alexander Zverev or defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. Twenty-three-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic will likely await the victor in the final.

Two Americans will do battle in another quarter-final. Ben Shelton will face Frances Tiafoe. "Great guys, same generation, playing great," Medvedev said on the matchup. "Ben managed to win [against] Tommy [Paul], so he's there, the third one. It's going to be a great atmosphere, a great match, at least one American in the semis. Let's see."

Joshua Mbu