Daniil Medvedev’s clay court renaissance came to a sudden, bitter end during a windy Tuesday afternoon on Court Philippe Chatrier as the second seed was upset 7-6(5), 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the French Open by Thiago Seyboth Wild, a Brazilian qualifier ranked No 172.
After years of discomfort and frustration on clay, Medvedev had arrived at Roland Garros finally competing at an elite level of tennis on the surface, winning his first clay title at the Italian Open in Rome.
In his first match here, however, Medvedev was unable to play with the same level of aggression and assertiveness. He was reduced to scrambling behind the baseline, desperately trying to eke out errors from his opponent.
Seyboth Wild, meanwhile, dominated the contest from inside the baseline with his vicious, precise forehand, moving forward to finish off points at the net.