Daniil Medvedev’s run at Roland Garros was cut short, echoing his struggles throughout the clay season and in recent Grand Slam tournaments. The former world No. 1 was eliminated in the first round of the French Open, losing to Australian wildcard Adam Walton in a five-set match that ended 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
Walton, ranked 97th in the world, achieved the most significant victory of his career after three hours and 22 minutes of fluctuating play. This defeat marked Medvedev’s seventh first-round elimination in 10 appearances at the French Open, a statistic that underscores his ongoing challenges on clay despite having reached six Grand Slam finals and winning the US Open.
The match demonstrated a pattern of inconsistency from both players. Walton capitalized on Medvedev’s errors to lead 4-2 in the first set before the Russian responded decisively, dropping only one game in the second set. The see-saw nature of the contest continued, with both players alternating control during the third and fourth sets.
In the decisive final set, the two players were tied at 4-4 before Walton earned a crucial break of serve and maintained his composure to secure the match. He won the final game without dropping a point, concluding Medvedev’s latest French Open campaign.
This early exit continues a troubling trend for Medvedev, who has now experienced four first-round losses in his past five Grand Slam tournaments. His only deeper run during this span occurred at the Australian Open earlier this year, where he reached the fourth round. His clay season has been marked by notable contrasts, including a heavy loss to Matteo Berrettini in Monte Carlo and a strong performance in Rome, where he reached the semi-finals and faced Jannik Sinner in a three-set match.
