Daniil Medvedev’s French Open campaign lasted one match after being knocked out by the 172nd-ranked player in the world. But the fiery Russian saved his best for the post-match.
Tennis: Aussie Alex De Minaur overcame a stumble to land a four set win in his round one French Open clash.
As far as the mercurial Russian is concerned, he was just happy to turn his back on another roller-coaster clay court season.
“Every time it finishes I’m happy,” said the world number two after losing to Seyboth Wild, who came through the qualifiers and had never previously won a Grand Slam match, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (6/8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
It was Medvedev’s fifth loss in the opening round at Roland Garros in seven appearances.
“I had a mouthful of clay since probably third game of the match, and I don’t like it. I don’t know if people like to eat clay, to have clay in their bags, in their shoes, the socks, white socks, you can throw them to garbage after clay season.
Daniil Medvedev reacts against Thiago Seyboth Wild during his round 1 loss. Picture: Getty Images
Medvedev was unhappy throughout the match. Picture: Getty Images
“Maybe some people like it. I don’t. I am happy to have it finished,” added Medvedev, who arrived in Paris buoyed by winning his first ever clay court title at the prestigious Italian Open last week for his fifth trophy of 2023.
Seyboth Wild, 23, unleashed 69 winners past the Russian. Had he not squandered two set points in the second set, he could have wrapped up the match sooner than the four hours and 15 minutes it took for the tie to play out.
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“I was cramping in the second set and couldn’t really serve the way I wanted,” said the Brazilian, without a win on the main tour since February 2022 until Tuesday.
Seyboth Wild had only previously played one match at the Slams at the US Open in 2020.
Apart from that brief ray of light, he had tried and failed eight times to qualify for the majors.
Medvedev believes the Brazilian can use Tuesday’s victory for a launchpad into the big time.
“If he continues to play that way, in my opinion, end of the year, he’s top 30,” said Medvedev.
“I honestly hope he’s going play like this later on, because if not, I’m going be disappointed. I’m going to be like, why today? Why not in two days?”