Medvedev faces fine after smashing racquet, camera in Melbourne meltdown
The feisty Russian, a three-time finalist in Melbourne, lost his cool in the third set before rallying to beat 418th-ranked Kasidit Samrej 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
Fifth seed Medvedev was 3-5 behind and on the brink of going two sets to one down against the Thai player when he exploded, slamming his racquet into the net camera repeatedly until they both became a broken mess.
Ball kids had to sweep up the debris when he lost the game and set, while the match was postponed briefly as officials ran repairs on the net.
Medvedev is facing a big penalty.
"Honestly, I hope not too big. The fine is usually for breaking the racquet, and the camera is going to cost some, but I don't think GoPro is that expensive," he said.
"When I did it, I didn't want to smash the racquet in pieces. When I saw the racquet, I was, like, okay, time to take a new one I guess."
Medvedev was playing his first match since the ATP Finals in November after arriving in Australia late to be at home for the birth of his second child.
He pledged before the tournament to be a "disruptor" against the big names this season, but his stuttering start against a player with no pedigree showed he has his work cut out.
"In general it was kind of a top level from him, serving good, one break each set, just what you need to do to win matches," Medvedev, who lost last year's final to Jannik Sinner, said.
"Two sets to one down is not an easy feeling. I was, like: I don't want to be on the flight tomorrow.
"I'm happy that I managed to stay tough. I think, in my opinion, I didn't play a bad level, I played quite well and will for sure try to play better throughout the tournament."
The former world number one broke his opponent's opening service game and was never troubled in the first set, racing through it in 30 minutes.
But the Thai player, who qualified for his Grand Slam debut by winning the Asia-Pacific wildcard playoff event, refused to go away.
He stunned the Russian by breaking him at 5-4 to take the second and was well on top in the third before the Medvedev meltdown.
But the 28-year-old is a veteran of five-setters in Melbourne, contesting four and winning three last year, and he regrouped, using his experience to reassert control as Samrej began flagging.