The first-round match at the ATP Shanghai Masters between Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic and France’s Arthur Rinderknech took an unexpected turn during the opening set. After just a few games, play was halted for eight minutes due to an unusual issue: excessive sweating from Medjedovic had left slippery patches on the court, raising safety concerns.
Chair umpire intervention allowed Medjedovic to leave the court and change clothes, a decision that sparked immediate protest from Rinderknech. The Frenchman, visibly frustrated, argued that the delay disrupted his rhythm just before his service game. He accused the tournament officials of favoritism, claiming they were “letting the opponent do whatever he wants.”
Rinderknech’s dramatic response and code violation
The situation escalated when Rinderknech, in a theatrical gesture, removed one of his shoes and walked across the court, suggesting that he too was leaving sweat marks and should be granted the same privilege. His protest earned him a warning for code violation, but the tension between the players continued to build.
Despite the disruption, Medjedovic managed to win the first set. However, shortly afterward, he was forced to retire from the match due to a back injury, bringing the contest to a premature end.
Heated exchange at the handshake
The drama didn’t end with the final point. During the customary handshake, the players exchanged sharp words, highlighting the lingering animosity. “How old are you?” Medjedovic reportedly asked, to which Rinderknech replied, “No respect for you.” The confrontation underscored the emotional intensity of a match that had veered far from the norm.
The incident has drawn attention not only for its unusual circumstances but also for the broader implications regarding player treatment and officiating consistency on the ATP Tour.
ATP Shanghai - Arthur Rinderknech's projected path
Rinderknech in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2025
At the moment ranked no.54, Rinderknech has managed to achieve a composed 27-31 win-loss record in 2025. Arthur is currently competing in Shanghai where he conquered the world no.65 Hamad Medjedovic 6-7(3) 1-0 ret. and the world no.34 Alex Michelsen 6-3 6-4.
Arthur Rinderknech will fight against the world no.117 Dino Prizmic in the . They have never played each other till now in top events.
Hamad Medjedovic in 2025
Ranked world no.65, Hamad played his last match on the 2nd of October when he had to retire when playing against world no.54 Arthur Rinderknech in the 1st round and the scoreline was 6-7(3) 1-0 .
This season Hamad has an overall 27-17 match record. This year, the Serbian conquered 1 title in the Oeiras 1 Challenger. The Serbian was the finalist in Marseille.
He is also scheduled to play in Almaty (Almaty Open) on the 13th of October and Vienna (Erste Bank Open) on the 20th of October.
Arthur Rinderknech and Hamad Medjedovic squared off just 2 times. Their actual head to head record is 1-1.