Medvedev falls in first round of Roland Garros to Walton

Published on May 28, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

Daniil Medvedev suffered another early elimination at Roland Garros. The Russian, a former world champion, lost to Australian wildcard Adam Walton (ranked 97th) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in the first round. Walton achieved his first victory against a top 10 player and will now face Svajda. Medvedev showed frustration on the court and now has six first-round losses in Paris.

Tennis player hitting a powerful forehand on clay court, sweat droplets frozen mid-air, racket strings vibrating on impact, opponent lunging in defensive split step, Roland Garros stadium stands blurred in background, dramatic low-angle shot, bright sunlight casting long shadows on crushed brick surface, photorealistic sports photography, Canon 200mm f/2.8 lens effect, shallow depth of field, intense athletic motion, clay dust particles suspended in golden hour light, dynamic tension between players, ultra-sharp focus on ball compression against racket strings

Medvedev's technical inconsistency on clay 🎾

Medvedev's game on clay continues to show cracks. His flat forehand and baseline play lose effectiveness against opponents who use topspin and drop shots. Walton, with a solid serve and changes of pace, exploited the Russian's lateral movement. Medvedev won only 38% of points on his second serve in the fifth set, a statistic that reflects his difficulty maintaining pressure on slow surfaces. Without a Plan B against aggressive opponents, his performance drops in tournaments like this.

Medvedev collects records... of first-round defeats 😅

Eliminated six times in the first round of Roland Garros. Medvedev should already have a VIP pass for the tournament's fast exit. While others complain about the clay dust, he seems allergic to the second round. Walton, who wasn't even in the main draw, hit the jackpot. Maybe Medvedev should ask to have the clay changed to hard court or, better yet, play on his home court.