Daniil Medvedev reacts during a first-round loss to Adam Walton at the 2026 French Open on Tuesday in Paris. Photo by Christophe Petit Tesson/EPA
May 26 (UPI) — Daniil Medvedev became the first Top 10 men’s or women’s player upset at the 2026 French Open, losing to Adam Walton in the first round Tuesday in Paris.
The No. 8 Russian, who also lost his first-round match last year, converted just 5 of 21 break point chances and amassed 60 unforced errors in the 3-hour, 22-minute match. His No. 97 Australian foe converted 6 of 15 break point chances and logged 46 unforced errors in the 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory.
“Not an easy match,” Medvedev told reporters at Roland Garros. “I didn’t play my best tennis. He played good [in] some moments, some moments not that good, and I managed to take the match when he didn’t play that well. That’s it.
“I didn’t manage to raise my level enough to win the whole match, and that’s why I lost.”
Walton, a wildcard entry, will meet No. 85 Zachary Svajda of the United States in the second round. Svajda defeated No. 61 Alexei Popyrin of Australia in his first-round match.
“It was a very up-and-down match,” Walton said of his meeting with Medvedev. “Obviously, I started well. Dropped the second, recovered in the third, dropped the fourth and just gave it my all in the fifth.”
No. 18 Learner Tien of the United States, No. 19 Valentin Vacherot of Monaco and No. 79 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece were among other notable players to advance through early matches Tuesday in Paris.
On the women’s side, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, No. 4 Coco Gauff of the United States and No. 16 Naomi Osaka of Japan each advanced in straight sets.
Sabalenka ousted Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain 6-4, 6-2. Gauff, the defending champion, beat fellow American Taylor Townsend (No. 75) 6-4, 6-0. Osaka eliminated No. 47 Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6(3).
“I’m happy with the level I played, happy with the fight I brought and just happy to be through this first-round match,” Sabalenka said.
Osaka is on track to meet Sabalenka in the fourth round if both players win their next two matches. French Open coverage will continue Tuesday night on TNT. Second-round coverage will air at 6 a.m. EDT Wednesday on TNT.
AloJapan.com