Australian wildcard Adam Walton upsets Daniil Medvedev at French Open 2026
Consensus Summary
Australian wildcard Adam Walton, ranked 97th in the world, stunned former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller at the 2026 French Open, winning 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4 on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The match, played in extreme 32C heat, saw Walton capitalize on Medvedevâs inconsistent play, particularly in the fifth set where the Russian collapsed after leading 4-2. Walton attributed his success to the conditions, noting his familiarity with playing in heat, and will now face American Zachary Svajda in the second round. This victory marks Waltonâs second career win over Medvedev, following their Cincinnati Open clash in August 2025, and his fourth Australian man to reach the second round of Roland Garros. Medvedev, who struggled with his serve and first-round exits at the French Open for the past three years, hinted at personal challenges but declined to elaborate. Meanwhile, fellow Australian Alexei Popyrin suffered another early loss to Svajda, dropping further in the rankings despite recent clay-court form.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Adam Walton defeated Daniil Medvedev at the 2026 French Open in a five-set match (6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4) on Court Suzanne Lenglen
- The match lasted 3 hours 22 minutes according to the Guardian, with the ABC not specifying duration but confirming a five-setter
- Adam Walton is ranked 97th in the world and received a wildcard invitation to the French Open
- Walton mentioned the 32C (90F) heat in Paris helped his performance, saying 'We grew up in the heat' and 'I really like it when itâs hot in Paris'
- Walton will face American Zachary Svajda in the second round
- Daniil Medvedev struggled with his serve in the fifth set, losing 1-6 after leading 4-2, and was broken to love in the final game
- This is Medvedevâs second-straight first-round exit at the French Open and his third in four years
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Waltonâs victory was his second career-best triumph over Medvedev, following a win at the 2025 Cincinnati Open in August
- Walton is the fourth Australian man to reach the second round of the French Open
- Alexei Popyrin, the Australian No. 2, lost in four sets to Zachary Svajda (3-6 6-3 7-6(7-3) 7-5) after a recent clay-court resurgence (beating Berrettini and Mensik at the Italian Open)
- Popyrin dropped from world No. 19 in August 2025 to No. 61 and was tearful after the loss, citing poor shot selection and ill-judged drop shots
- The match took place on Court Suzanne Lenglen, with Walton surviving break points in the penultimate game of the fifth set
- Walton described Medvedevâs early fifth-set play as strong, with many first serves, but Walton âjust had to hang toughâ
- Medvedev acknowledged he knew why he struggles at Roland Garros but refused to explain, calling it âmaking excusesâ
- A photo caption credits Getty Images: Dan Istitene for Walton celebrating with the crowd
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the match lasted 3 hours 22 minutes, while the ABC does not specify the duration
Source Articles
Australian wildcard Adam Walton shocks Daniil Medvedev at French Open
Queenslander holds nerve to win 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4 Former world No 1 dispatched in searing Paris heat Wildcard Adam Walton has pulled off the biggest victory of his career at the French Open, staying cool in the Paris heat to shock a frazzled Daniil Medvedev for the second time in nine months. The Queenslander took advantage of one of the former world No 1âs Jekyll and Hyde days, hanging tough in the final set to come from behind and win 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4 in three hours 22 minutes on Court Su
Australian underdog stuns former world number one at French Open
Queenslander Adam Walton makes it through the heat and five-set grind to down former world number one Daniil Medvedev at the French Open.