Daniil Medvedev's troubled history at the French Open continued as he suffered a shocking first-round defeat to Australian wildcard Adam Walton on Tuesday. The match, characterized by dramatic momentum shifts, ended 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in favor of the world number 97 on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
Medvedev's Early Exit
The former world number one has now exited in the first round in six of his last nine appearances at the Grand Slam event, underscoring his ongoing difficulties on the slow clay surface. Medvedev showed signs of frustration early on, dropping serve and allowing Walton to build a 4-2 lead in the opening set. The 30-year-old Russian then lost the set with a forehand that sailed beyond the baseline.
A Rollercoaster Match
Medvedev mounted a swift recovery in the second set, regaining his rhythm and dropping only one game to level the match. However, the sixth seed could not maintain his momentum and lost the third set. Walton, seeking his first win over a top-10 player, surrendered the fourth set but fought back bravely in the decider. He broke Medvedev at 4-4, held serve under pressure, and sealed the victory on his first match point.
What's Next for Walton
The 27-year-old Australian will face American Zachary Svajda in the second round. Svajda advanced by defeating Australian Alexei Popyrin in his opening match.
