Daniil Medvedev's path to victory at the Australian Open was anything but smooth, as he battled through a grueling five-set match against Thailand's Kasidit Samrej that pushed him to the limits of his composure. The world No. 5 ultimately triumphed 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, but not before experiencing a moment of spectacular frustration.

The turning point came at the end of the third set, when Samrej – ranked 418th in the world – seemed on the verge of a potential upset. During a tense rally, Samrej's lucky shot clipped the net, forcing Medvedev into a desperate sprint. Although he reached the ball, he couldn't prevent Samrej's subsequent cross-court winner.

In a moment of pure competitive rage, Medvedev unleashed his frustration by destroying a small camera positioned at the center of the net, simultaneously breaking both the camera and his racket. The chair umpire responded with a warning for racket abuse, a standard penalty for such outbursts.

Despite the momentary meltdown, Medvedev managed to regain his composure and ultimately secured the victory. In a lighthearted post-match interview, he joked about his opponent's performance, suggesting that if Samrej consistently played at this level, he could enjoy significant success.

As a three-time finalist and last year's runner-up at the Australian Open, Medvedev will next face 19-year-old American player Learner Tien in the second round, looking to continue his campaign for the championship.