Australian underdog stuns former world number one at French Open

Australian underdog Adam Walton has achieved the biggest win of his career, stunning former world number one Daniil Medvedev in a dramatic five-set thriller at the French Open.

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He was playing pretty well, making a lot of first serves [early in the fifth set], and was liking my ball, so I knew I just had to hang tough.

Ranked 97th in the world, Walton secured his place in the second round after a grueling 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory. The unseeded player competed at Roland Garros thanks to a wild card invitation from the tournament organizers. This marks Medvedev's second consecutive first-round exit at the French Open and his third in the last four years.

Walton attributed his success partly to the unusually hot conditions in Paris, which he believes favored his game. "We grow up in the heat [in Australia]. We like the heat, so it makes the ball move faster through the air, which I think helped my game today," Walton commented. He noted that Medvedev was playing well, particularly with his first serve in the fifth set, but Walton focused on "hanging tough."

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It's definitely hotter than previous years that I've played here. But we grow up in the heat [in Australia]. We like the heat, so it makes the ball move faster through the air, which I think helped my game today, so I really like it when it's hot in Paris.

Medvedev acknowledged struggling at the French Open but declined to elaborate on the reasons, stating he did not want to make excuses. "I know why I don't really play my best in Roland Garros, but if I say it, it's [making] excuses," he said. Walton is now set to face American Zachary Svajda in the second round of the tournament.

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I know why I don't really play my best in Roland Garros, but if I say it, it's [making] excuses. So I keep it to myself.