Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil achieved a stunning victory at Roland Garros, eliminating Daniil Medvedev in the first round. The world number 172, who had to fight through qualifying, claimed the biggest win of his career in a tense five-set battle on Tuesday. Despite the pressure of his debut in Paris, Wild stayed calm over the course of 4 hours and 15 minutes, upsetting the top-seeded Russian 7-6(5), 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
This victory marks the first Grand Slam match win for the 23-year-old Brazilian, who has only played in two major main draws. He played an inspired and bold brand of tennis, dominating the net and hitting huge forehands to stun the crowd and Medvedev alike. He is now set to play Argentina's Guido Pella in the second round on June 1.
Wild's performance was nearly flawless, particularly his forehand game which left the Russian struggling; he recorded 47 winners compared to 15 errors. His net play was also a key factor, with a success rate of 69% (38/55 points). This result makes him the lowest-ranked player to beat a world number two in the first round of Roland Garros since Mariano Zabaleta, ranked 213, defeated Petr Korda back in 1998.
Medvedev's early exit came as a complete surprise given his dominant form this year, boasting a 39-6 record. The 2021 US Open champion had been in peak form, winning five trophies in 2023 as he pursued his second career major title.
Reflecting on the historic win, the Brazilian expressed his disbelief, noting that he had spent his entire junior career watching Medvedev play. For him, competing on such a prestigious court against a top-tier opponent was a lifelong dream come true. Wild also explained his strategy, revealing that he aimed to be aggressive by attacking the angles and getting to the net as frequently as possible to challenge Medvedev's game.
The match was physically demanding, and Wild admitted he began suffering from cramps as early as the second set. However, he pushed through the pain to play the best tennis of his life, stating that he is incredibly proud of how he performed.