Men’s No.2 seed Medvedev suffers shock defeat in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros

Daniil Medvedev, one of the top contenders for the French Open title, was stunned by world No.172 Thiago Seyboth Wild in a dramatic first-round loss at Roland Garros on Day 3 of the tournament. Medvedev, the No.2 seed, was knocked out in a bizarre five-set match, with the Brazilian qualifier winning 7-6, 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 after over four hours of play.

Medvedev, who had been in great form after winning the Italian Open earlier in May, struggled to settle into his rhythm against the unseeded Seyboth Wild, who was making his Grand Slam debut. The match was filled with unexpected twists, including a nosebleed for Medvedev, moments of brilliance mixed with erratic play, and a tense atmosphere with the crowd, who booed Medvedev when he had a dispute with the umpire over a line call.

Seyboth Wild, who has battled injury setbacks in recent years, remained calm and composed throughout the encounter. Reflecting on the victory, he said, “It’s a dream come true. I’m really happy with the way I played.”

Medvedev, meanwhile, expressed his disappointment but acknowledged the challenging conditions on court, including strong winds that made the match difficult. Despite his frustration, he admitted that the loss would linger with him for the next week.

The defeat marks Medvedev’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam since the 2020 French Open, while Seyboth Wild celebrates one of the biggest wins of his career.