Andy Roddick has weighed in on Daniil Medvedev’s frustrated outburst at the 2024 Laver Cup, drawing a comparison to Novak Djokovic’s controversial default from the 2020 US Open. Given the stark contrast in the punishment meted out to both players, the American highlighted the apparent inconsistency in the rules of the sport.

With crucial points on offer for Team Europe on Day 3 of the Laver Cup, Medvedev took on Ben Shelton in the first singles match of the day. The Russian, who was looking to redeem himself after his loss to Frances Tiafoe on Day 2, had an outburst during the tense first-set tiebreak.

After handing Shelton two set points, the Russian sent his racket flying towards the stands in a fit of anger. The World No. 5 only received a warning for his outburst, which didn’t go down well with the members of Team World. However, as Frances Tiafoe argued with the officials over the decision, the chair umpire clarified that Medvedev avoided a default because his racket didn’t hit anyone.

“Frances, it bounced and it didn’t hit anyone. The result was not bad. If it had hit someone, I’d agree with you,” the umpire said.

On the Tennis Channel, Daniil Medvedev’s outburst prompted a discussion about Andy Roddick’s hilarious tutorial on the best way for players to throw their racket without potentially hurting someone. The former World No. 1 humorously remarked that his aim with the video was to help players avoid hefty fines.

“No, I should be (getting residuals),” Roddick said. “I’m just trying to save these guys money, that’s it. Full capitalism. Just throw it face down, don’t throw it at someone.”

Roddick also pointed out the inconsistencies in tennis regulations, arguing that Novak Djokovic’s “fluke” hit that struck a lineswoman in the throat was far “less intentional” than Medvedev’s racket throw. However, while Djokovic was defaulted from the 2020 US Open, the Russian escaped harsh consequences.

“But also, this is another one of those rules in tennis where, you look at Novak when he got defaulted from the US Open, that was a fluke. In my opinion, that was way less intentional than what Daniil Medvedev did,” Roddick said.

“He was swatting the ball back towards the tarp which you can do with no fault pretty much all the time. Novak didn’t hit it out of bounds, it just happened to hit someone and he hit it with a little more force. This was actually actually more intentional. Listen, up is down, down is up, welcome to the rules of tennis,” he added.

“Players need to rewatch Andy Roddick’s tutorial on throwing a racket in anger” – Brad Gilbert on Daniil Medvedev’s ‘lucky’ escape during Laver Cup outburst

Andy Roddick’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, who recently parted ways with Coco Gauff, reacted to Daniil Medvedev’s outburst on social media. The American coach asserted that the Russian was “lucky” to avoid a default and called for a reassessment of the rules.

“Meddy Bear (Daniil Medvedev) was pretty lucky in that racket Chuck, maybe at some point his rule needs to be relooked at more closely then umpires referee decisions,” he wrote on X.

Gilbert also encouraged the World No. 5 and other players to rewatch Roddick’s “tutorial” on the best way to throw a racket in anger.

“1st of all players need to be way more careful and need rewatch (Andy Roddick) tutorial on throwing a racket or firing a ball in anger,” he commented further.

Daniil Medvedev, meanwhile, addressed the controversy in his post-match press conference, acknowledging his “horrible” conduct. However, the 28-year-old emphasized that the decision not to disqualify him was justified since his racket didn’t hit anybody in the crowd.

“I didn’t want to throw it the way I threw it. I mean, I didn’t want — I wanted to throw it, like, on one place, so it was horrible from me. I got lucky. I didn’t touch anyone. When you don’t touch anyone in tennis, you don’t get a disqualification. So that’s it. I got, yeah, should not do this,” Daniil Medvedev told the press.

Although Medvedev suffered a 6-7(6), 7-5, 10-7 loss to Ben Shelton, Team Europe eventually triumphed at the Laver Cup, thanks to Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz’s crucial wins.