Emerging
May 26, 20261
Medvedev exits French Open in first round after five-set loss to Walton
Daniil Medvedev was knocked out of the 2026 French Open in the first round by Australia’s Adam Walton after a five-set battle in Paris. Walton, ranked No. 97, advances to face Zachary Svajda in the next round.
Quick Facts
- Medvedev lost in the opening round of the 2026 French Open
- Walton defeated Medvedev in five sets
- Walton advanced to the second round
- Walton is scheduled to play Zachary Svajda
- Daniil Medvedev
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev was eliminated in the opening round of the 2026 French Open on Tuesday after falling to Australia’s Adam Walton in a five-set match in Paris. Walton, ranked world No. 97, won 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in a contest that lasted more than three hours.
Medvedev, the tournament’s sixth seed, was competing under neutral status. The defeat marked an early exit for one of the leading players in the men’s draw, despite his past success on the ATP Tour, including the 2021 US Open title and 23 career ATP titles overall.
After the match, Walton said he was "pretty tired" and described the encounter as "such an up-and-down match." He added that he was proud of his effort in the fifth set, saying he came from a break down to secure the win.
Walton advances to face American Zachary Svajda in the next round. The French Open, one of tennis’s four Grand Slam tournaments, is being played on outdoor clay courts at Stade Roland Garros in Paris from May 24 to June 7.
Topics
Why This Matters
Medvedev’s first-round exit is a significant upset because he is a former US Open champion and one of the marquee names in the men’s draw. For fans and bettors, the result shows how volatile early-round Grand Slam matches can be on clay, and it opens a clearer path for lower-ranked players like Walton while reshuffling expectations for the rest of the tournament.
Timeline & Sources
May 26, 2026
WireWalton defeated Medvedev in a five-set match and advanced to face Zachary Svajda.
May 26, 2026
WireTASS reported that Daniil Medvedev lost in the first round of the French Open to Adam Walton.