French Open: Medvedev shocked by wildcard, as Norrie retires mid-game

Adam Walton beat Daniil Medvedev 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4 in a French Open first-round match on clay. Medvedev struggled early, dropping serve and allowing Walton to lead 4-2 in the opening set, then lost the set. Medvedev recovered quickly, taking the next set while conceding only one game, but he could not sustain control and let another set slip. Walton, ranked world number 97, fought through setbacks, broke back at 4-4 in the fifth set, held tightly, and then won the match for a first win over a top-10 player. Walton will face Zachary Svajda next.

"Daniil Medvedev could not avoid the French Open first-round trapdoor as he fell 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4 to Australian wildcard Adam Walton in a match marked by sharp swings in momentum on the Parisian clay."

"Medvedev showed early signs of frustration when he dropped serve and then allowed Walton to build a 4-2 lead in the opening set, which the 30-year-old relinquished with a forehand that sailed over the baseline. The recovery was swift and emphatic as Medvedev regained his rhythm to wrest control by claiming the next set for the loss of only one game, but the sixth seed could not maintain his grip and let the third set slip away."

"World number 97 Walton, who was seeking a first win over a top-10 player, surrendered the fourth set but fought on bravely in the decider to break back at 4-4, before producing a tight hold and then dismissing Medvedev for a famous victory."

""It was such an up-and-down match. I got off to a hot start, and I felt like the ebbs and flows of the match were quite large today. I'm just really proud of my efforts in the fifth set, to come from a break down to get the win.""

Read at Irish Independent