ATP
Roland Garros Men’s Day 3
A Brazilian qualifier scored the first major upset of the French Open on Tuesday, sending second seed Daniil Medvedev out in the first round 7-6 (5), 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 172 outsider Thiago Seyboth Wild worked for four and a quarter hours to hand the Rome Masters champion his exit papers on the Chatrier showcourt.
The loss was the earliest for Medvedev in three years at a Grand Slam.
“I watched him play for my entire junior career,” the South American, 23, said.
“I dreamed of playing on this court against this kind of player. This is a dream come true.
“I wanted to use all the angles and use my forehand against his – it worked pretty well.”
After winning the tiebreak first set, Seyboth Wild lost the next two as Medvedev mounted a fightback.
But with the sets level at two apiece, two breaks of the second seed in the final set made the winning difference.
“I was cramping in the second set and I couldn’t serve as I wanted,” the winner said.
“But I used my mental strength and tried to play my best tennis. I’m really happy with how I played.”
Seyboth Wild had lost in Paris qualifying for the previous three years and was competing in only his second main draw at a Slam after the 2020 US Open.
Medvedev came here with five titles from six finals and 39 match wins in 2023.
Casper Ruud began his quest after playing the final here a year ago against Rafael Nadal, with the Norwegian winning a Scandinavian showdown 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 over Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer.
Ruud played two finals at the majors last season, losing at the US Open to Carlos Alcaraz.
April’s Estoril champion, who lost a Rome semi-final, improved to 12-5 on clay this season.
“I felt pretty good, it was nice to be back,” the winner said. “I had some nerves obviously.
“Being back in the first round is always a little tense: you’re here for days training and want to get the tournament going.
“But I came through in straight sets – just what you want to start with.
“I felt good, better and better towards the end of the match, finishing with a break.”
The fourth seed said that playing best-of-five sets at a major is reassuring in some ways.
“It’s sort of calming, you feel if you would lose the first set, the finish line is still quite far away for your opponent.
“In a normal match, if you play a sloppy game and you get broken and you lose the first set, you know that every game matters.
“If I get broken in the second set, that could be the end of the match. Best-of-five sets on clay, it takes a little longer to finish.”
Danish sixth seed Holger Rune, losing Rome finalist to Medvedev and a quarter-finalist here a year ago, reached the second round over Chris Eubanks of the US 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
“There are always nerves in the first round,” he said. “He was hitting freely and serving big, there were also lively (court) conditions.
“I had to adjust my game, so I’m happy to come through.”
Alexander Zverev returned to the scene of a 2022 semi-final ankle injury which sent off court in a wheelchair, with the German overcoming any lingering fears in a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0), 6-1 win over South African Lloyd Harris.
Zverev, who once touched second in the world, currently stands 27th as he works this season to return to his regular Top 10 place.
Harris played a US Open quarter-final two years ago before suffering a wrist injury which kept him off court for the last six months.
Tommy Paul of the US put out Swiss qualifying lucky oser Dominic Stricker 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 while Yoshito Nishioka defeated American JJ Wolf from two sets to love down.
Main photo:-Thiago Seyboth Wild celebrates as he wins first round match, knocking out #2 seed Daniil Medvedev (—)
Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
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