Chair umpire Greg Allensworth was at the centre of the recent US Open 2025 controversy
Greg Allensworth, is the tennis official, who was overseeing the match between Daniil Medvedev vs Benjamin Bonzi, a match which has been making waves online for all the reasons.
Who is Greg Allensworth, tennis chair umpire involved in the Daniil Medvedev and photographer US Open controversy
Social media platforms, especially X/Twitter, TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram, have been buzzing with a viral video of Daniil Medvedev, wherein the 29-year-old tennis player was caught visibly upset after a cameraperson walked on the court during a match point during the US Open 2025.
What Exactly Happened?
The first-round match of the US Open 2025, which was held at the Louis Armstrong Stadium today, saw a controversial moment, for both Greg Allensworth, and Daniil Medvedev, after a photographer walked onto the court during a match point in the third set of the game.
At the time, the 29-year-old French professional tennis player, was serving to close out the game, and the match point score of Medvedev was 3-5-4, and for Bonzi was 6-7-5.
However, due to the disruption caused by the photographer, Allensworth awarded him with yet another first serve, a decision that left the Russian player furious, with his fans loudly chanting “What did Opelka say,” a reference of the earlier criticism of the tennis official done by Reilly Opelka, an American tennis player.
Daniil Medvedev was visibly upset after a camera person walked on the court at match point. pic.twitter.com/5wnVf2GSFm
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2025
What Did Reilly Opelka Say?
The Opelka incident took place in February 2025, at the Dallas Open, when the 27-year-old American player confronted a fan during serving against Cameron Norrie. The player confronted a fan after the fan coughed during his serve.
After witnessing his behaviour, Greg Allensworth gave him a code of violation. Additionally, he also gave the player, a point penalty for swearing at the spectator. While, at the time the American professional bagged a victory, however, after his victory, he unleashed his fury at the umpire, and described him as “the worst ref on the ATP.”
Who is Greg Allensworth?
While, not enough personal information is available about the umpire, including his age and date of birth, however, the tennis official has an impressive resume in officiating tennis. The umpire is one of 33 Gold Badge Chair Umpires worldwide, and has been an Elite ATP Chair Empire since 2019.
As per his official LinkedIn profile, the tennis umpire hails from North Canton, Ohio, United States. As per his bio at the platform, he is “a self-motivated leader, with a track record for excellence in officiating, curriculum development, training, educating, and customer service.”
A photographer entered the court between Benjamin Bonzi's first and second serve on MATCH POINT at the first round of the US Open. 📷
Chair umpire Greg Allensworth gave Bonzi another first serve leaving Daniil Medvedev up in arms. 🤬
[Via: @espn ]pic.twitter.com/fIQC1J9oFj
— FirstSportz Tennis (@FS_Tennis1) August 25, 2025
According to his LinkedIn profile, the official has completed a Bachelor’s degree in History from Ohio University. Before officiating the tennis matches professionally, Allensworth served as a ‘Front of House Manager,’ for Hall of Fame Fitness Center, wherein he worked part-time for approximately 5 years, from Jan 2005 to December 2009.
Additionally, he worked part-time as a ‘Student Director Intramural Sports,’ at Ohio University, from November 2006 to January 2010. He began officiating the matches internationally in December 2005, a role which he is serving till date. Currently, he is a ‘Staff Chair Umpire,’ for ATP Tour, a role he is serving full-time, since signing the deal in January 2025.
Allensworth has been an ATP Elite Team Chair Umpire since 2019 and also worked as an ITF/Grand Slam Development Team Chair Umpire from 2015 to 2019.
The American tennis umpire officiated the 2023 US Open Men’s Singles Final and ATP Masters 1000 finals in Cincinnati 2023 and Miami 2024. He worked the 2019 US Open Men’s Doubles Final and the 2017 US Open Mixed Doubles Final and even served as an official at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He even volunteered as an Officials’ Committee for United States Tennis Association from January 2019 to May 2022.
Greg Allensworth always umpiring for great matches 😂 pic.twitter.com/Uqkw890Io9
— Ani (@BloodBag222) August 25, 2025
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