Australian Underdogs Deliver Shocking Upsets at Roland-Garros
Two Australian underdogs have delivered two of the most unexpected results at this year’s Roland-Garros, capturing the attention of tennis fans around the world. Kim Birrell followed in the footsteps of Adam Walton, who made history with an incredible fifth-set comeback against Daniil Medvedev, by securing her first top-10 win against fifth-ranked American Jessica Pegula just before 10:30 pm local time.
Walton, who had to rely on a reciprocal wildcard from Tennis Australia after his ranking dropped into the triple digits, made the most of his opportunity. He came back from 2-4 down in the final set to defeat Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4. Just eight hours later, Birrell, who had never won a match at the claycourt major before, stunned Pegula with a remarkable performance. Despite losing the opening set and being down a break in the second, she managed to turn the tide and win 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Birrell’s victory was particularly dramatic. She built a 5-2 lead in the deciding set but struggled to close out the match. However, her aggressive return game allowed her to break Pegula for the sixth time, leading to one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Emotional and overwhelmed, Birrell buried her face in her hands as she processed the significance of her win. Her coach, Nicole Pratt, celebrated with great enthusiasm in the stands. “I don’t really know what to say or think,” Birrell said. “When I saw the draw and I was playing Jessie, I knew it was going to be extremely tough. I really admire her as a player and as a person, and I just tried to take it one point at a time.”
A Historic Win for Birrell
Birrell admitted that her goal was simply to win one game in the first set, gradually building confidence as the match progressed. “I’m so happy that I was able to play probably the best match I’ve played on clay and during a grand slam, especially here. It’s really, really special,” she added.
Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur also advanced to the third round after his scheduled opponent, Belgian Alexander Blockx, withdrew due to an ankle injury sustained during a practice session with Joao Fonseca.
Walton is set to face American Zachary Svajda, who overcame a challenging fourth set to defeat Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5. Birrell will take on Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova in the next round.
This marks the seventh time in 10 appearances at Roland-Garros that world No.7 Medvedev has failed to progress beyond the first round. The Russian, a quarter-finalist in Paris in 2021, faced a shocking defeat after dropping his racquet in disbelief following a self-sabotaging final service game.
Medvedev’s Implosion
Walton’s victory over Medvedev was a career-best win, and he credited his previous three-set triumph over the Russian at last year’s Cincinnati Masters for boosting his confidence. “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,” Walton said.
Despite Medvedev’s strong start, the match took a dramatic turn when the Russian began struggling to keep the ball in court. The crowd, initially urging Medvedev to rally, shifted their support to Walton after a series of errors, including a disastrous drop shot that cost him the break in the eighth game.
Medvedev continued to unravel, committing multiple unforced errors and double-faulting for 0-40. His inability to raise his level ultimately led to his elimination, while Walton’s aggressive shot-making and willingness to finish points at the net proved decisive.
Walton, who has now secured four main draw wins at grand slam level, described the heat in Paris as beneficial to his game. “It’s definitely hotter than previous years that I’ve played here,” he said. “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.”
In contrast, Medvedev had recently taken a set off world No.1 Jannik Sinner at the Rome Masters, showcasing his ability to compete against the best. However, his performance against Walton was anything but consistent, with the Russian admitting he did not play his best tennis.
“I didn’t manage to raise my level enough to win the whole match, and that’s why I lost,” Medvedev said.
Walton, on the other hand, remained composed throughout the match, while Medvedev was seen moaning about the heat early in the first set. His wife, Daria, even told him to “behave” during the match.
Australians Make Their Mark
Birrell and Walton are among six Australians who advanced from the first round, joining de Minaur, James Duckworth, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Daria Kasatkina. Their performances have highlighted the growing strength of Australian tennis on the global stage.
As the tournament continues, fans will be watching closely to see if these underdogs can make even more waves in the coming rounds.
