When a Photographer Ruins Match Point

(I usually write my blog in Russian — this is the translated version).

Turkish photographer Akar Selçuk stepped onto the court during match point. Chair umpire John Greg Allensworth immediately halted play, and Daniil Medvedev stirred up a scandal. As a result, the photographer was escorted out and had his accreditation revoked.

Sometimes tournaments produce incidents no one could ever script, moments that become as hotly debated as the tennis itself. At this year’s US Open, such drama unfolded in the Daniil Medvedev vs. Benjamin Bonzi match.

Medvedev was being dismantled; it looked over. Bonzi held match point, his game flowing, but his first serve clipped the net. He lined up his second… and then, out of nowhere — on match point! — Selçuk dashed across the court, trying to move from a service entrance to the photographers’ pit. Seven meters, two or three seconds. But that was enough. Play was stopped, arguments erupted, the pause dragged on, and the crowd booed. The match itself seemed to freeze in mid-air.

Allensworth ordered the serve replayed, starting with the first ball. Medvedev was furious, whipping up the crowd on purpose. It fired him up — and against all odds, he saved match point and stole the set. Bonzi eventually closed out the victory, but the mood, the momentum, and the memory of the finish had completely changed.

The photographer was expelled and stripped of accreditation, a punishment that was absolutely justified. Rules — especially fundamental ones like never entering the court during play — exist for a reason. Every accredited photographer knows both the official and unwritten codes of tennis conduct. Selçuk is no rookie; he has worked major events, even the Olympics. For a professional, this was an unforgivable lapse.

Video of the incident circulated widely

But the tournament itself is not blameless. Anyone who has been backstage at a Grand Slam knows security is airtight. Guards man every corner, passes are checked and scanned, doors are locked during play. On Louis Armstrong Stadium, the only way to reach the photo positions is by crossing the court. That makes security even more critical: no one should be able to step onto the playing surface during a live point. If Selçuk made it there, the system clearly broke down.

I’m not excusing him, but responsibility is shared. It was the perfect storm of personal mistake and organizational failure.

I recall a similar episode myself, though far less dramatic. In Miami, I once set up in what I thought was a fine spot to photograph Roger Federer as he passed through the tunnel area. Only later did I realize I had accidentally blocked the television broadcast sightline. A security officer quickly — and politely — corrected me. I stepped aside, apologized, and that was that. The mistake was harmless but still a lesson: no matter how focused you are on your shot, dozens of others are working around you, each with their own responsibilities.

Selçuk’s case exploded because the timing was too important, too symbolic. The US Open came down hard, and understandably so — such an incident cannot happen again. Still, organizers must also reflect: stronger security and clearer briefings for photographers could prevent a repeat. These errors emerge where human misjudgment meets systemic weakness.

In the end, both the photographer and the tournament share blame. And for us as colleagues, this serves as a sobering reminder: we may be standing right next to sporting history, but our duty is to remain invisible and disciplined. One misstep, and suddenly the story is no longer about the players — it’s about you, for all the wrong reasons.