On May 26, 2026, the French Open witnessed a major surprise as Daniil Medvedev fell in the first round for yet another Grand Slam disappointment, succumbing to Adam Walton in a gripping five-set match. Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, lost with scores of 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4, marking his sixth consecutive Grand Slam appearance without advancing to the quarterfinals. This latest result underscores a troubling trend for the Russian player, who has now been eliminated early in four of those six tournaments and has only managed to reach the second round once.
Reflecting on his performance, Medvedev stated, “I do feel like I was—and I do think I am still—usually good in Grand Slams.” However, he acknowledged the challenges that come with the early rounds, expressing difficulty in finding his rhythm. “The first round is the toughest one,” he added. Medvedev is optimistic that he can regain his form in future tournaments, particularly as he looks forward to Wimbledon.
In a remarkable turnaround, Adam Walton celebrated his first victory against a player in the top 10. Prior to this match, Walton had secured a win over Medvedev at the 2025 Cincinnati Masters, albeit when Medvedev was ranked 15th. “I had the belief that I could definitely go out there and beat him,” Walton remarked. He described his first top-10 win at a Grand Slam as a monumental achievement.
Walton was not the only player making headlines on Day 3 of the tournament. Jan-Lennard Struff also created an upset by knocking out 2025 quarterfinalist Alexander Bublik in a closely contested match, winning 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-5. Other seeded players who exited early included Tallon Griekspoor, Cameron Norrie, and Corentin Moutet, adding to the unpredictable nature of this year’s tournament.
As the competition continues, the focus will shift to how these early upsets might reshape the draw and pave the way for rising stars like Walton and Struff in their quest for Grand Slam glory.
