Medvedev Stunned By Wildcard Walton in First Round

Paris: Daniil Medvedev could not escape the French Open first round trap door, losing 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4 to Australian wild card Adam Walton in a match where the momentum changed sharply on the Paris ground on Tuesday.

The former world number one had fallen at the first hurdle in six of his previous nine clay-court Grand Slam matches, highlighting his uneasy relationship with Roland Garros and the sport’s slowest surface.

“This is huge,” Walton said of the victory in his on-field interview, adding that his win over Medvedev in Cincinnati last year gave him the confidence to repeat that success.

“I knew and believed that I could do this, so I’m happy with my performance. I’m really excited right now.”

Medvedev showed early signs of frustration when he dropped serve and then allowed Walton to take a 4-2 lead in the opening set, which the 30-year-old gave up with a forehand that sailed over the goal line.

The recovery was quick and effective as Medvedev regained his rhythm to take control in the next set, claiming only one game loss, but he was unable to maintain his sixth-seeded dominance and let the third set slip away.

World number 97 Walton surrendered the fourth set to claim his first win against a top-10 player but fought bravely to break back at 4-4, then held firm and then dismissed Medvedev for a famous victory.

“I’m pretty tired right now,” Walton added.

“It was an up-and-down match. I got off to a hot start and today I felt like the ebb and flow of the match was pretty big. I’m really proud of my efforts to get the win in the fifth set after a collapse.”

The next step for the 27-year-old football player will be his second round match against American Zachary Svajda, who beat Australian Alexei Popyrin.