Technology advancements have paved the way for on-court improvements at the ATP 500 event in Dubai, but for Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev, they have proved to be more of a nuisance than a blessing. Last year, the event was marked by a scandalous incident involving Andrey Rublev, who was defaulted for allegedly swearing at a line judge. This led to the introduction of a video review system akin to football’s VAR to prevent such controversies in the future.

However, not everyone is pleased with this new development. Medvedev, for instance, was left disgruntled when his calls for a video replay fell on deaf ears. The reigning US Open champion, who has been trying to find his footing this year, took to Dubai with a bang, dispatching Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets.

His next match, against French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, was a walk in the park for Medvedev, who wrapped it up in just 82 minutes. However, the match was not without its share of drama. At one point, Perricard seemed to come dangerously close to the net, leading Medvedev to call for a VAR check. Much to his chagrin, he was informed that the camera was unable to confirm if Perricard had indeed touched the net.

This incident triggered a humorous yet pointed response from Medvedev. In a post-match press conference, he questioned the usefulness of a $60,000 net camera if it failed to fulfill its basic purpose. Medvedev, known for his wit, recalled being fined a similar amount at the Australian Open for damaging a camera, which he thought was a GoPro.

In his words: “Today, I don’t think he touched, but we have the video review. If he touched, I win the point, I win the break. But then there’s this $60,000 camera that doesn’t show it. So I’m asking, what is this camera doing there if it can’t even show if he touched the net or not?”

Medvedev went on to share a clip of the incident on social media, cheekily captioning it “Refund?” The Russian had previously gained notoriety for smashing a net camera during a match against Kasidit Samrej in Melbourne, an act which landed him a hefty fine.

Despite this recent controversy, Medvedev remains focused on his performance in the Middle East. After defeating Mpetshi Perricard with a 6-4, 6-4 win, Medvedev moved on to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships for the third consecutive year. He later noted in an on-court interview how he managed to tackle the French player’s powerful serves, saying, “It’s pure reflexes. I was very good on my serve, that helped. I’m generally happy with my level.”

Medvedev is set to play against Tallon Griekspoor in the last eight, potentially moving a step closer to achieving his first title since his ATP Masters 1000 win in Rome in 2023.