Wild shock for Medvedev, Swiatek off to a flying start

Daniil Medvedev became the highest-ranked player to exit the French Open after losing a marathon encounter against Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild on a windy Tuesday, while Novak Djokovic found himself at the centre of a political storm.
Iga Swiatek gave herself an early birthday gift a day before turning 22 by dismissing Cristina Bucsa 6-4 6-0 as world number seven Ons Jabeur beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-4 6-1 and 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva earned her first Grand Slam main draw win.
World number two Medvedev emerged as a surprise contender for the Paris title following his Rome triumph but the Russian blew his chance in gusty conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier as Wild sealed a 7-6(5) 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-4 victory.
“I watched Daniil play since I was junior and beating him on such a court is a dream come true,” world number 172 Wild said after the gruelling clash that lasted more than four hours.
Medvedev later said he had no regrets about his claycourt season ending prematurely.
“Today because of the wind and the dry court, I had my mouth full of clay since probably the third game and I don’t like it,” Medvedev said.
“I don’t know if people like to eat clay, to have clay in their bags, their shoes, white socks, you can throw them to the garbage after the clay season. Maybe some people like it. I don’t.”
Kosovo’s tennis federation said Djokovic risked aggravating an already tense situation after the world number three wrote on a camera lens that Kosovo was “the heart of Serbia” following his first-round win a day earlier.
Some 30 Nato peacekeeping soldiers were injured on Monday in clashes with Serbian protesters in the northern Kosovo town of Zvecan, where Djokovic’s father grew up. “The comments made by Djokovic at the end of his match against Aleksandar Kovacevic, his statements at the post-match conference and his Instagram post are regrettable,” Kosovo tennis federation chief Jeton Hadergjonaj said.
“Despite a general message against violence, the statement ‘Kosovo is the heart of Serbia’ and further statements after the match made by such a public figure... directly result in raising the level of tension between the two states, Serbia and Kosovo.”
The French Tennis Federation, which organises the Roland Garros tournament, said in a statement: “The same rules apply to all four Grand Slams. The tournament referee and Grand Slam Supervisors ensure that these rules are complied with.
“Messages are passed on to the teams of any players concerned by such matters.”
A source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the organisers did not see 22-times major champion Djokovic’s action as “detrimental to the best interests of the tournament”, as per the Grand Slam rulebook.
Last year’s runner-up Casper Ruud advanced to the next round by thumping Swedish qualifier Elias Ymer 6-4 6-3 6-2 and he was joined by sixth seed Holger Rune who dug deep to get past Christopher Eubanks 6-4 3-6 7-6(2) 6-2.
Alexander Zverev exited Roland Garros in agony last year after rolling his ankle during his semi-final against Rafa Nadal but the German celebrated a winning return by beating Lloyd Harris 7-6(6) 7-6(0) 6-1.
TEENAGE SENSATION
Andreeva announced herself to the world when she stunned 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez 6-3 6-4 in Madrid last month and also defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia and Magda Linette before falling to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka.
The Russian qualifier broke new ground at the majors with a 6-2 6-1 win over former world number 18 Alison Riske-Amritraj.
“Last year I was here as a junior and couldn’t imagine I can be here playing the women’s tournament, being in a major passing qualification,” said Andreeva, who meets Diane Parry after the French wild card beat Rome runner-up Anhelina Kalinina 6-2 6-3.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” Andreeva, who also hoped to practice with Jabeur in Paris said. “I just try to enjoy every moment here.”
Andreeva said yesterday that a good luck message from Andy Murray “maybe” helped her win on her French Open debut.
Murray is sitting out Roland Garros to prepare for the grass-court season, but he did wish Andreeva the best for her campaign. “After he won a Challenger, I texted him. I said, ‘Congratulations’,” said Andreeva.
“He actually answered me, so I was really happy about it. He said, ‘Thank you, and good luck in Roland Garros’. Maybe that’s why I’m playing that good now.”
She continued her rapid rise since losing in the Roland Garros girls’ singles quarter-finals 12 months ago with an impressive dismantling of experienced American Riske-Amritraj.
“Last year I was here as a junior, and I think I couldn’t even imagine that I can be playing women’s tournament here and being in a major, passing qualification,” said Andreeva.
Brenda Fruhvirtova, another 16-year-old seeking a statement win, crashed out following a 6-4 6-2 defeat by Elena Rybakina as the Wimbledon champion continued her quest for a second Grand Slam title. “Didn’t start that well, took me a while to figure out how to play this... But I’m very happy,” said Rybakina.
She will face another Czech teen, Linda Noskova, in the next round. American sixth seed Coco Gauff also shook off a slow start to seal a 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory over Spain’s Rebeka Masarova.
“Rebeka played a great match but I’m pleased I managed to turn it around,” said Gauff. “I know that I’m confident on the surface and these conditions.”
Gauff, who lost to Iga Swiatek in last year’s final, was broken early in the match and then saw eight break points come and go as Masarova held on to take the first set. But the 19-year-old raced through the second and then wasted little time in wrapping up the match as she broke serve three times in the decider.