“Daniil Medvedev’s Struggles on Clay Continues with First Round Upset at French Open 2023”

Daniil Medvedev nine days ago he dominated the Masters 1000 in Rome. He won his first title on clay, which he hated for a long time and on which he played only one semi-final and one final.

It seemed that he took the orange pulp at her mercy and at least made friends with her. He arrived at Roland Garros with the hope that he might surpass his best from 2021 (quarterfinals) and fight for a return to the world number one position.

But the clay revival of the 27-year-old native of Moscow is not happening. The 2021 US Open winner has already finished in the first round for the fifth time in seven starts on the Paris clays, moreover, after a very unexpected defeat to the world’s 172nd player Thiagem Seybothem.

The 23-year-old Brazilian, who won the ATP 250 clay event in Santiago, Chile three years ago, but never featured in the TOP 100 of the world rankings, played Philippe Chatrier on the biggest court in his debut in the main competition and destroyed the favorite in windy conditions mainly with a cannon forehand.

After winning the opening set, the winner of this year’s two clay challengers lost 1:2, but in the further development he showed stronger nerves and was able to unexpectedly defeat his traditionally scattered opponent.

“I tried to play good angles, use my forehand against his and it worked great. Physically it was difficult, I had a bit of a cramp, but I still tried to play my best and it worked,” commented Seyboth, who until now had never even four-set match.

The Brazilian tennis player played against a TOP 10 player for the first time in his career and claimed his first scalp. He defeated a member of the elite twenty for the first time after using match point.

“I watched Daniil as a junior and to beat him on a court like this is a dream come true,” added Seyboth after his first Grand Slam win. So far, his only start three years ago at the US Open ended in the first round after a smooth defeat.

In all previous ten tournaments this year, Medvedev won at least two matches and turned half of his starts into triumphs. Today he played his 12th five-set duel in total and left it as a loser for the ninth time.

“It was a very difficult match, the opponent played very well. I will definitely not watch this match on TV again. I think Thiago will be in the TOP 30 at the end of the season. If he plays like he did today, I will be happy. But if not , then I’ll be angry and I’ll ask myself why he went against me,” Medvedev said at the press conference.

The German tennis player made a triumphant return to the Paris Grand Slam after a serious ankle injury last year Alexander Zverev. The former world number two beat the South African in the opening round Lloyda Harrise 7:6, 7:6, 6:1.

Zverev tore ligaments in his ankle a year ago in the semifinals with Rafael Nadal, left the court in a wheelchair, and lost the rest of the season after surgery for other health problems.

“It’s very nice to be back again. After last year, this is a tournament that I really put on my calendar, I really wanted to play here and play well,” said Zverev after the match on court.

In the end, the even duel with Harris was affected by the opponent’s problems with the calf muscle, which were fully manifested at the end of the second set. Zverev won the tie-break 7-0 and, after a medical break, took the third set smoothly in 31 minutes.

“I know I have to play better, but it was very windy, and Lloyd served very well. But I’m happy that I won in three sets, I usually start Roland Garros in five sets,” he added with a smile.

Holger Rune stepped up to defend the quarterfinals. The Danish finalist in two Masters clay events this year defeated the American Christophera Eubankse after sets 6:4, 3:6. 7:6, 6:2.

The winner of the duel between Gaël Monfils and Sebastián Báez awaits in the second round