In the French Open, there was a significant surprise when Daniil Medvedev, ranked second in the world, was defeated by Brazilian challenger Thiago Seyboth Wild in the opening round on Tuesday.
The 172nd ranked player remained composed as he defeated Medvedev in an exciting five-set match, with a final score of 7-6(5) 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-4, after over four hours of play on the court.
Medvedev’s performance on clay is not his strongest, but he entered the Roland Garros tournament with momentum after claiming his first clay-court title at the 2021 Italian Open.
It was widely anticipated that he would defeat Seyboth Wild, who was making his debut in the grand slam main draw. However, the Brazilian took control of the match with his strong forehand in challenging windy conditions.
“I have been watching Daniil play throughout my entire junior career, and today, playing on this court against such a skilled opponent and defeating him, feels like a dream come true,” expressed 23-year-old Seyboth Wild during his on-court interview.
As I stepped onto the court, my goal was to reach the net frequently and utilize my forehand against my opponent’s. This strategy proved to be quite successful.
After securing the first set, Seyboth Wild missed several opportunities to win the second set which gave Medvedev a chance to gain momentum in the match.
The Russian easily won the third set, but still faced difficulties maintaining consistency and showed signs of frustration.
The Brazilian was able to recuperate and bring the match to a tense final set. He remained composed and ultimately secured a remarkable victory on Philippe Chatrier.
Following a powerful forehand that sealed his victory, the ecstatic Brazilian looked out to the audience in shock and then lifted his arms triumphantly.
Seyboth Wild expressed that the match was challenging, as they began to experience cramping in the second set. Despite this, they gave their best effort and were able to execute their top-level tennis skills successfully. They expressed contentment with their performance.
In the next round, he will be competing against either Quentin Halys or Guido Pella.
Source: cnn.com