A Brazilian qualifier scored the first major upset of the French Open on Tuesday, sending second seed Daniil Medvedev out in the first round 7-6 (5), 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 172 outsider Thiago Seyboth Wild worked for four and a quarter hours to hand the Rome Masters champion his exit papers on the Chatrier showcourt.
The loss was the earliest for Medvedev in three years at a Grand Slam.
“I watched him play for my entire junior career,” the South American, 23, said.
“I dreamed of playing on this court against this kind of player. This is a dream come true.
“I wanted to use all the angles and use my forehand against his – it worked pretty well.”
After winning the tiebreak first set, Seyboth Wild lost the next two as Medvedev mounted a fightback.
But with the sets level at two apiece, two breaks of the second seed in the final set made the winning difference.
“I was cramping in the second set and I couldn’t serve as I wanted,” the winner said.
“But I used my mental strength and tried to play my best tennis. I’m really happy with how I played.”
Seyboth Wild had lost in Paris qualifying for the previous three years and was competing in only his second main draw at a Slam after the 2020 US Open.
Medvedev came here with five titles from six finals and 39 match wins in 2023.
Casper Ruud began his quest after playing the final here a year ago against Rafael Nadal, with the Norwegian winning a Scandinavian showdown 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 over Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer.
Ruud played two finals at the majors last season, losing at the US Open to Carlos Alcaraz.
April’s Estoril champion, who lost a Rome semi-final, improved to 12-5 on clay this season.
“I felt pretty good, it was nice to be back,” the winner said. “I had some nerves obviously.
“Being back in the first round is always a little tense: you’re here for days training and want to get the tournament going.
“But I came through in straight sets – just what you want to start with.
“I felt good, better and better towards the end of the match, finishing with a break.”
The fourth seed said that playing best-of-five sets at a major is reassuring in some ways.
“It’s sort of calming, you feel if you would lose the first set, the finish line is still quite far away for your opponent.
“In a normal match, if you play a sloppy game and you get broken and you lose the first set, you know that every game matters.
“If I get broken in the second set, that could be the end of the match. Best-of-five sets on clay, it takes a little longer to finish.”
Danish sixth seed Holger Rune, losing Rome finalist to Medvedev and a quarter-finalist here a year ago, reached the second round over Chris Eubanks of the US 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
“There are always nerves in the first round,” he said. “He was hitting freely and serving big, there were also lively (court) conditions.
“I had to adjust my game, so I’m happy to come through.”
Alexander Zverev returned to the scene of a 2022 semi-final ankle injury which sent off court in a wheelchair, with the German overcoming any lingering fears in a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0), 6-1 win over South African Lloyd Harris.
Zverev, who once touched second in the world, currently stands 27th as he works this season to return to his regular Top 10 place.
Harris played a US Open quarter-final two years ago before suffering a wrist injury which kept him off court for the last six months.
Tommy Paul of the US put out Swiss qualifying lucky oser Dominic Stricker 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 while Yoshito Nishioka defeated American JJ Wolf from two sets to love down.
Main photo:-Thiago Seyboth Wild celebrates as he wins first round match, knocking out #2 seed Daniil Medvedev (—)
Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
