Daniil Medvedev’s struggles at Grand Slam tournaments continued on a disappointing note as he suffered an unexpected first-round defeat to Australian player Adam Walton at the French Open on Tuesday. In a match filled with drama, Walton emerged victorious with a final score of 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4, overcoming a precarious situation in the fifth set where he faced a potential double-break.
This defeat adds to Medvedev’s recent woes, marking the sixth consecutive Grand Slam where he has failed to surpass the quarterfinal stage. Throughout this tough stretch, he has faced first-round exits on four occasions and managed to navigate past the second round just once.
Reflecting on his performance, the former U.S. Open champion expressed his frustration yet maintained hope. “I do feel like I was — and I do think I am still — usually good in Grand Slams,” he explained. “I can lose even now in the first round, but I don’t think I’ve lost the ability to perform in Grand Slams. I believe it can come back at any moment — perhaps at Wimbledon. However, the game has changed over the last five years at these tournaments, and I don’t think it suits me well.”
Medvedev also acknowledged the challenges of finding his rhythm, especially in the opening round of such prestigious events.
On the flip side, Adam Walton celebrated a significant milestone as this match marked his first victory over a top-10 player. At 27, Walton had previously triumphed against Medvedev during the Cincinnati Masters last summer when the Russian was ranked 15th. “I had the belief that I could definitely go out there and beat him,” stated Walton. “Having done it in Cincinnati was a huge confidence booster. To get a first top-10 win at a slam is pretty epic.”
Walton wasn’t the only player to progress to the second round, as Jan-Lennard Struff also secured a place by defeating Alexander Bublik, a quarterfinalist at Roland Garros in 2025, with a score of 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-5.
Other seeded players who faced early exits on Tuesday included Cameron Norrie, Tallon Griekspoor, and Corentin Moutet, adding to the day’s surprises as the tournament unfolded.
