Daniil Medvedev confirmed he's not friends with US Open rival who accused him of cheating

Daniil Medvedev admitted he was still not friends with Taylor Fritz following a cheating row from a practice session. The tennis stars previously hit together to prepare for matches, calling their own lines.

However, after what should have been an uncompetitive spot of practice, the pair's relationship soured, possibly beyond repair, after Fritz accused Medvedev of some contentious calls. Any chance that they had put the spat behind them was shattered during last year's US Open when the Russian admitted he was still not friends with American Fritz. Asked in a press conference whether he had ever encountered cheating during practice, Medvedev said in a press conference: "I have one funny story. I don't know if Taylor remembers it, Taylor Fritz. If he can tell it, you can ask him next press conference from his side."

He continued: "We played Wimbledon. It would be probably 2018 or '19. So long ago. We both were not where we are right now. Brutally honest, I don't want to cheat on practice, but you know, sometimes you don't see the ball.

"It's like a challenge. Today, I asked to show replay, and the ball was so much in, and in my head it was really close. Okay, it happens. So we're playing, and I don't remember exactly what it was, but I called some out where I thought the ball was out."

Medvedev's now-wife then overheard Fritz branding him a cheat. He added: "Then my wife - I think at the time she was even maybe a girlfriend to me - talks to me after the practice and says that he was talking to his coach and was like, 'Damn this guy, he cheats all the time.'

"I was so shocked because I really, especially on practice, I honestly don't really care if I win in practice or lose. I always try to win, but whatever. To be honest, out of everyone on the tour, I don't think anyone on practice wants to cheat. So he was, like, apparently not happy with me.

"At the time we didn't really speak to each other. So we were not like friends. We're still not friends, but I think we're in a good relationship."

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Never far from controversy, Medvedev had an extraordinary meltdown during his first-round defeat to Benjamin Bonzi at this year's tournament. The fiery 29-year-old was incensed when, with Bonzi serving at 5-4 and advantage in the third set, a cameraman walked onto the court between the Frenchman's first and second serve, causing a brief delay that umpire Greg Allensworth deemed merited a retake of his first serve for Bonzi.

Medvedev immediately went to Allensworth to protest the decision and whipped up the booing crowd, shouting: "Are you a man? Why are you shaking? He wants to go home guys, he doesn't like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour."

Although Medvedev then returned to the baseline, he continued to encourage the reaction of the crowd and it was more than six minutes before Bonzi finally hit his serve. The former world No.1 went on to win the point, that set and the next to pull himself back into the contest, only for Bonzi to repeat his Wimbledon victory over Medvedev, who has now lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam tournament for the third time in a row.

Medvedev placed the blame on the crowd after the 6-3 7-5 6-7 (5) 0-6 6-4 defeat, saying: "What I say and what I do, in my head, I want to do worse, and I cannot because there are rules, because we're on a tennis court.

"So I just expressed my emotions, my unhappiness with the decision, and then the crowd did what they did without me asking them too much, and it was fun to witness."