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Walton stuns Medvedev in five

The No.97-ranked Aussie took out former world No.1 Medvedev in five sets

Adam Walton, R1, Roland-Garros 2026
©Andrè Ferreira / FFT
 - Chris Oddo

Daniil Medvedev entered Tuesday’s first-round clash with Australia’s Adam Walton having never won a five-set match on the Parisian clay. Three deciding set losses – in 2019, 2023 and 2025 – are a big reason why the former world No.1 had suffered six first-round defeats in his first nine appearances.

Make it seven out of ten.

On a balmy day inside Court Suzanne-Lenglen, the 97th-ranked Australian wildcard rallied from a break down in the fifth set to notch a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory over the No.6 seed in three hours and 22 minutes.

"I really like it when it's hot in Paris," an elated Walton told the crowd.

The Australian, who earned his first career top-10 win in five tries, will face American Zachary Svajda in the second round. 

Medvedev drops to 0-4 in five-setters in Paris, and 10-10 lifetime in Porte d'Auteuil. He is the biggest seed to fall in the first round in Paris this year.

“I had the belief that I could definitely go out there and beat him,” said Walton, who also defeated Medvedev last year. “Obviously having done it in Cincinnati was a huge confidence booster – to get a first top-10 win at a Slam is pretty epic.”

A frequent flyer 

Walton has taken the scenic route to Paris this year. Based in the United States, he started his clay season on the red clay of Houston, before jumping a flight to Busan, South Korea for a Challenger event on hard courts.

Next, he flew to Madrid for the Masters 1000 event, where he won a round. He then flew back to China for a two more hard-court Challenger events, before jetting back just in time for Roland-Garros. 

“The decision to go play the challengers in Asia was always set in stone,” he told reporters. “I was trying to chase the Wimbledon cut. I was actually needing a fair few points to be able to make the main draw.

"Then the decision to leave Asia after the first week to head to Madrid was purely just because I got into the main draw. We saw it as a great chance with Madrid being a bit of altitude, and the conditions being right.

“The hardest part was to come back to China after that tournament.”

Medvedev’s new plan for 2027? 

It has been a rough run in the first round for Medvedev. Every time he has won his first match in Paris he has gone on to reach the second week. But he’s only managed to do that in three of his 10 career appearances. 

The 30-year-old told reporters that he may try a different approach to the week before the main draw next year. 

“I know that I am in good shape and I can play well in Roland-Garros, as well," he said. "I can. It's just tougher for me, and first rounds are usually tougher for me, but I will always come [to Paris to play the tournament].

“Maybe I should consider playing a tournament [during the week] before [the main draw], which I usually don't do before Grand Slams, that's the only thing I will consider next year.”