Daniil Medvedev has extended a humorous yet heartfelt farewell to Grand Slam umpire Jaume Campistol, who is retiring after years of officiating on tennis’ biggest stages. The Russian star’s message comes two years after their memorable interaction during the 2022 Australian Open semifinal against Stefanos Tsitsipas, where Medvedev famously dubbed Campistol a “small cat.”
During that heated match, Medvedev, known for his intensity on the court, grew frustrated with what he perceived as illegal coaching by Tsitsipas’ father, Apostolos, from the stands. Despite repeatedly voicing his concerns, Campistol did not initially intervene, prompting Medvedev’s outburst: “His father can talk every point? Bro, are you stupid? His father can talk every point?! If you don’t, you are a… small cat.”
“You are a… 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙩” 😼
We’ve never heard that before from Daniil Medvedev 😬#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/zqQca8EPTg
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 28, 2022
The incident became one of the tournament’s viral moments, with Medvedev later apologizing to Campistol for his harsh words. Reflecting on their shared history, the 2021 US Open champion posted a lighthearted message on social media: “Man, a lot of fun memories on the tennis court. Wishing you a peaceful retirement.”
Man a lot of fun memories on the tennis court 😂😂😂
Wishing you a peaceful retirement pic.twitter.com/rwsYifHl2E— Daniil Medvedev (@DaniilMedwed) November 20, 2024
Campistol eventually issued a warning to Tsitsipas during the match, and Medvedev went on to secure a four-set victory, advancing to the final. There, he faced Rafael Nadal in a marathon showdown, where he dominated early but succumbed to Nadal’s legendary comeback to lose in five sets.
The farewell underscores Medvedev’s growth as a player who can laugh at his past moments of frustration, showcasing the mutual respect that often develops between players and officials in the sport. Campistol’s retirement marks the end of an era, with his composed demeanor and years of service leaving a lasting impression on the tennis world.
Daniil Medvedev in 2024
Currently the world no.5, Daniil played his last match on the 14th of November when he lost to world no.1 Jannik Sinner 6-3 6-4 in the round robin in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This season the Russian has managed to achieve a compiled 46-21 record. Daniil Medvedev’s most significant result of the current year was reaching the final at the Australian Open and Indian Wells.
Daniil Medvedev will come up against the world no.370 Diego Schwartzman in the Round Robin on Sunday at 4:00 pm on CENTER COURT. Their head to head is 6-0 for Medvedev.
Daniil got to the final at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open).
The Russian won 21 titles in his career: 11 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 8 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
