Walton took the match 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 after coming back from 2-4 down in the fifth set.

For Medvedev it is yet another round one loss at Roland Garros, he has now lost seven times from 10 appearances in Paris.

Walton with this win claimed his first top-10 victory.

The Australian now holds a 2-1 head-to-head record over Medvedev. Walton defeated Medvedev in the 2025 Cicinnati Masters before Walton went down in a tight match in Almaty.

Just a few weeks ago we saw Medvedev push Jannik Sinner to three sets in the Rome Masters semifinal.

It was the Australian that got off to a fast start with Medvedev hitting long at 15-30 to give Walton the first break point opportunity. A short return from Walton saw Medvedev move to the net where he put away a volley.

The former world no. 1 would hold that game and then the third for a 2-1 lead.

After that it was all Walton in the opening set.

The match took a big turn in the second set with Medvedev racing through to take it 6-1.

During the set break Walton had some tape applied to his left hand.

Most people would have now expected Medvedev power his way through the match but it wasn’t to be. We saw another one-sided set with Walton taking in 6-1.

Walton had got the break in game two after a drop-shot from Medvedev was matched by another drop shot. Medvedev just pushed the short ball down the line and Walton stepped in to fire a passing shot for the break.

The world no. 74 consolidated the break to go ahead 3-0. Another break and hold and it was 5-0.

Medvedev would hold to love for 1-5 however another service hold for Walton and the set was in the bag for the Aussie.

After a service hold in the opening game of the fourth set, Medvedev would hit a winner to get a look at a break point, despite some great defence from the Russian, Walton saved the break point.

Walton got to a drop shot, but then hit long to give another break point opportunity. Medvedev did everything right until he had an easy overhead to hit, he hit it into the net.

The no. 6 seed would finally break after a marathon game. After letting a 40-0 lead slip, Medvedev would finally win the third game from Ad to take a 3-0 lead.

After another marathon game in which Medvedev broke it was 4-0. It was soon 5-0.

Walton managed to get an easy service hold before Medvedev served out the set to take the match into a fifth set.

The first two games went with serve before a loose game from Walton saw him broken to love. Medvedev held for 3-1.

Walton looked in trouble again at 0-30 in the fifth game, then 30-40. A return into the net from Medvedev on a second serve saw Walton back at deuce.

A great down-the-line passing shot from Medvedev gave him another break point. Walton would save it. The Australian would hold for Medvedev to serve at 3-2. A hold and it was 4-2 for the Russian.

Walton could be excused from just seeing the match slip away but he had other ideas.

A good drop shot came to open the seventh game, another one on the second point was chased down by the Russian, but he popped it up for Walton to volley away for a winner.

A huge forehand winner from Walton saw him put Medvedev on notice. He would hold to get to 4-3 with the Russian serving.

Two unforced errors from Medvedev saw Walton jump out to 0-30. A volley from Medvedev forced an error but then a missed drop shot gave Walton 15-40. One break point was saved before a great rally from the Australian saw him break back for 4-4.

Walton held to put the pressure on his opponent, although he did offer up a break point after hitting long on one of the deuce points.

Medvedev had another opportunity to break but Walton held his nerve and hit a smash just near the sideline to save that break point.

Walton was struggling to close out the game, and Medvedev had his third break point. The Russian let Walton off the hook when hitting well over the baseline.

A good wide serve forced an error from the Russian before a poorly placed drop shot from Medvedev saw the Australian easily get to the ball for a down-the-line winner.

The opening point saw Medvedev dump an attempted drop shot into the net. On the next point he smashed the ball into the net to be down 0-30. A costly miss.

A double-fault compounded the error, it was triple match point. It took just one when Medvedev hit a drive volley long.

“I really like it when it’s hot in Paris,” an elated Walton told the crowd.

“I had the belief that I could definitely go out there and beat him,” said Walton, who also defeated Medvedev last year. “Obviously having done it in Cincinnati was a huge confidence booster – to get a first top-10 win at a Slam is pretty epic.”

Next up for Walton is world no. 85 Zachary Svajda from the USA.

The post Aussies take out women’s no. 5 seed and men’s no. 6 seed in a day of Roland Garros upsets appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

In his last match in a grand slam, Kokkinakis lost an epic 5-set match to Jack Draper at the Australian Open in 2025.

At the 2024 US Open he won in four, then lost in 3.

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At the 2024 Wimbledon tournament the Australian won in 5 sets before retiring from his second round match.

Two years ago at the French Open we saw Kokkinakis win two matches in 5 sets before losing in 5 to Taylor Fritz.

The Australian Open in 2024 again saw a five set win in the opening round.

And so it goes, all the way back to 2015, there was often a five set match thrown in.

In 2026 after coming back from injury, the 30-year-old Australian took on world no. 52 ranked French player Terence Atmane.

After a close first set was won by the Frenchman it was Kokkinakis that took the second set. Atmane hit back to lead two sets to one before the Australian took the final two sets to win in four hours and 18 minutes.

Kokkinakis fired down 24 Aces to 14 from Atmane. The match was won 6-7(5), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

“To come back after such little tennis on a grand stage and in these conditions against a good player from France, it’s probably my best mental effort,” said the Adelaide warrior.

“Even a few days ago there was talks that I wasn’t sure if I’d play. I had some people flying in, and I told them to stay home, because I didn’t want to play a few games and something go bad.

“To be honest. I was very scared, very nervous to go out there – but when I got going, I just played on energy.”

Next up is Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

de Minaur and Kasatkina advance

Other winners on day two included Australia’s top-ranked men’s player, Alex de Minaur. He won against British qualifier Toby Samuel. The Brit who is ranked at no. 159 was playing his first match against a top-100 player, let alone a top-10 star.

de Minaur won the match 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

“I’m happy to get my campaign started. You know, [it’s] never easy starting first match of a tournament, but to get the win in straight sets, I thought I played a very consistent match,” said de Minaur

Daria Kasatkina won her match against Zeynep Sonmez from Turkey. The final score was a 6-4, 6-4.

“Today was one of the matches where I think maybe we didn’t produce, like, the fabulous level of tennis. But, you know, it’s very hot, the conditions are tough.,” Kastakina said.

Australians lose first round

Emerson Jones had a four-time French Open champion in her way in round 1. Iga Swiatek proved a class above the young Australian, taking the match 6-1, 6-2.

Also out the door was Maya Joint, losing 6-1, 6-2 to Austria’s Anastasia Potapova. Talia Gibson lost to Yulia Putinseva 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Aleksander Vukic lost to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon, the final score was 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(4).

Rinky Hijikata also lost, going down to USA’s Tommy Paul 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

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This comes after his Canadian opponent retired from the match with the score at 6-3, 4-1.

Duckworth had gone into the round one match was some form on the board after winning a Challenger event in Mexico last month.

Diallo, despite the higher ranking has struggled for wins in 2026.

Duckworth is the only male player taking to the courts on day one in Paris.

The win for Duckworth was just his second at the French Open from 10 matches. His last win coming back in 2021 against Salvatore Caruso, the then world no. 82.

The Australian first played in main draw action back in 2013 when having navigated his way through qualifying.

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Alexei Popyrin (25th seed)

• First Round: def. Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) – Score not specified in available sources, but Popyrin advanced without dropping a set.
• Second Round: def. Alejandro Tabilo (CHL) 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.
• Third Round: def. Nuno Borges (POR) – Popyrin advanced to the Round of 16 for the first time in his career (this is based on context and some sources may refer to the third round as the last-32; however, Popyrin’s run is widely reported as a career-best at Roland-Garros, and he ultimately faced Tommy Paul in the Round of 16, which is sometimes colloquially called the “fourth round” or “last-16”).
  • Note: Some sources refer to Popyrin’s third-round win as his best-ever result, but official Roland-Garros brackets and reporting confirm he reached the Round of 16 before losing to Tommy Paul3.
• Round of 16: lost to Tommy Paul (USA) 3-6, 3-6, 3-6.

Adam Walton

• First Round: def. [Q] Maximilian Marterer (GER) – Score: 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 (his first Grand Slam main draw win)1.
• Second Round: lost to Andrey Rublev (RUS) – Score not specified in available sources, but Walton advanced to the second round for the first time1.

Alex de Minaur (9th seed)

• First Round: def. Laslo Djere (SRB) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(8).
• Second Round: lost to Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 2-6 – Bublik completed a major comeback after de Minaur led two sets to love.

Jordan Thompson

• First Round: lost to Jiří Lehečka (CZE) – Score: 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.

James Duckworth

• First Round: lost to Alexander Bublik (KAZ) –  6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

Christopher O’Connell

• First Round: lost to Ugo Humbert (FRA) – 7-5, 6-3. 7-6(3).

Rinky Hijikata

• First Round: lost to Reilly Opelka (USA) – 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(3).

Aleksandar Vukic

• First Round: lost to Karen Khachanov – 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Tristan Schoolkate (Wildcard)

• First Round: lost to Márton Fucsovics (HUN) – 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

Summary Table

Key Takeaways

Popyrin had his best result at Roland Garros, his previos best was the second round back in 2019, five round one exits followed. Popyrin matched his best Grand Slam result, also reaching the fourth round at the 2024 US Open.

After reaching the quarterfinals at the previous four Grand Slam tournaments, de Minaur was looking to make that next step, instead he was left with the disappointment of a round two exit after holding a two sets to nil lead over Bublik.

The post Australian Men’s Results at Roland-Garros 2025 appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

Here is a summary of the results for Australians competing on day 1 and 2 in the 2025 French Open (Roland Garros) qualifying:

Men’s Qualifying

• Jason Kubler: Advanced to the second round after defeating Alejandro Moro Canas (ESP) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. He is enjoying strong form, having won 17 of his last 19 matches.
• Bernard Tomic: Also progressed to the second round with a straight-sets win over Coleman Wong (HKG) 7-6(2), 6-3.
• Li Tu: Lost in a tight three-set match to French wildcard Clement Tabur 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
• Omar Jasika: Fell to Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.
• Alex Bolt: Defeated by Pablo Llamas Ruiz (ESP) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
• James McCabe: Lost convincingly to Mathys Erhard (FRA) 6-1, 6-1.

Women’s Qualifying

• Astra Sharma: Dominated with a double-bagel (6-0, 6-0) victory over Emina Bektas (USA) in just 36 minutes.
• Talia Gibson: Defeated Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) 6-2, 6-3.
• Daria Saville: Beat Heather Watson (GBR) 7-6(2), 6-2.
• Maddison Inglis: Advanced to the second round with a commanding win over Iryna Shymanovich 6-1, 6-1.
• Lizette Cabrera: Lost to Mananchaya Sawangkaew (THA) 6-4, 6-2.
• Storm Hunter: Defeated by Zhang Shuai (CHN) 6-3, 6-2.
• Priscilla Hon: Narrowly lost to Jana Fett (CRO) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(10), despite holding a match point.
• Taylah Preston: Lost to Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 6-4, 7-5.
• Arina Rodionova: Defeated by Tereza Valentova (CZE) 6-2, 6-2.

Summary Table

Several Australians—especially in the women’s draw—have advanced to the second round of qualifying, while others saw their main draw hopes end in the opening stage.

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• • Alex de Minaur (World No. 8): De Minaur leads the Australian charge as a top-10 seed and 2024 quarterfinalist. Despite a recent setback in Rome, where he lost in the round of 16 to Tommy Paul, de Minaur remains Australia’s best hope for a deep run. He has shown improved clay-court form this year, including a win over Daniil Medvedev in Monte Carlo, but consistency against top opponents remains a challenge.

Melbourne, Australia; 12th Jan 2025: Alex de Minaur of Australia during a practice session at the Australian Open. Melbourne, Australia. (Photo Credit: Rob Keating/RobiciaTennisPhotography)

• • Alexei Popyrin (World No. 25): With a career-high ranking and potential seeding, Popyrin is positioned for his best-ever Roland Garros showing.

• • Jordan Thompson & Christopher O’Connell: Both have reached the third round in Paris before and bring valuable experience.

• • Aleksandar Vukic, Rinky Hijikata, Adam Walton: These players are seeking their first main-draw wins at Roland Garros.

• • Tristan Schoolkate: Awarded a wildcard after a strong year, Schoolkate will make his main-draw debut.

Tristan Schoolkate received a wildcard. (Photo Credit: Rob Keating/RobiciaTennisPhotography)

Nick Kyrgios will be teaming up with Jordan Thompson in the doubles. (Since the article was first published, Kyrgios has withdrawn.

• • Daria Kasatkina (World No. 15): The Russian-born Australian is making her Slam debut for Australia and brings a clay pedigree, having reached the Roland Garros semifinals in 2022. She recently dominated at the Charleston Open and is seen as a strong contender to go deep in Paris.

• • Ajla Tomljanovic: A former fourth-rounder in Paris, Tomljanovic is back in the main draw and looking to recapture her best form.

• • Kimberly Birrell, Olivia Gadecki, Maya Joint: Birrell makes her second main-draw appearance, while Gadecki and Joint debut at Roland Garros.

• • Destanee Aiava: The wildcard recipient, ranked No. 157, has shown promise with recent Slam breakthroughs and will look to build on that momentum.

• • Storm Hunter: Returns on a protected ranking and will compete in qualifying, hoping to join the main draw.

• • Nick Kyrgios: While not competing in singles, Kyrgios will return to Roland Garros for the first time since 2017, partnering with Jordan Thompson in doubles. Kyrgios has withdrawn. Thompson is now partnering Jason Kubler, the 2023 Australian Open doubles champion.

• • The main-draw numbers could grow further, with 14 Australians contesting the qualifying rounds and more wildcards possible.

Key Storylines

• • De Minaur’s Quest: Can Alex de Minaur translate his hard-court success and improved clay form into a career-best Slam run?

• • Kasatkina’s Debut: How far can Kasatkina go representing Australia for the first time at a major, given her proven clay-court credentials?

• • Rising Stars: Watch for Aiava, Schoolkate, Gadecki, and Joint as they look to make their mark and possibly spring upsets.

• • Doubles Spotlight: Kyrgios’ return in doubles adds star power and intrigue to the Australian campaign.

The post 2025 French Open Preview: Australian Players appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

Tristan Schoolkate, 24, has been steadily rising through the ranks of professional tennis and enters Paris on the back of growing Grand Slam experience. After reaching the second round at the 2024 US Open, Schoolkate made further waves at the 2025 Australian Open, where he pushed eventual champion Jannik Sinner to four sets in a spirited second-round performance. That match, which saw Schoolkate claim a set from one of the tour’s most dominant players, highlighted the Australian’s fearless game and big-match temperament.

Known for his strong serve and willingness to step inside the baseline, Schoolkate’s game isn’t traditionally built for clay. Yet, his athleticism and improving movement suggest he’s more than capable of adapting. With confidence from two solid Slam outings and growing experience against top-tier opponents, this wildcard presents an ideal platform for the West Australian to prove he belongs among the elite.

For Destanee Aiava, the wildcard signals a follow-on from her 2025 Australian Open apprearance as a qualifier. The 25-year-old burst onto the scene as a teenager but has had to navigate the challenges of expectation, form, and injury over recent years. In 2025, however, she’s shown renewed promise, with an ITF finals appearance and improved consistency lifting her ranking and outlook. Aiava’s powerful groundstrokes and athletic court coverage have always made her a threat, and with a stronger mental game, she enters Roland Garros poised to capitalize on her opportunity.

Both players benefit from the reciprocal wildcard arrangement between Tennis Australia and the French Tennis Federation, but their inclusion is far from symbolic. For Schoolkate, it’s a chance to build on recent Grand Slam momentum; for Aiava, it’s a shot at rediscovery on a global stage.

Roland Garros is a proving ground, and for these two Australians, the challenge is clear—but so is the opportunity. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Schoolkate and Aiava are ready to take their swings in Paris.

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In doing so de Minaur becomes the first Australian male to reach that stage of the tournament since 2004. Lleyton Hewitt was the last to get that far.

Medvedev was on top early after getting a break of serve in the third game of the match. de Minaur almost broke back when Medvedev was serving for the set at 5-4.

de Minaur got his first break of serve for 4-2 in the second set, shortly after Medvedev called for a trainer to receive treatment for blisters on his right foot.

It was now that Medvedev started making more errors to help de Minaur take the second set.

The Australian charged through the third set and then got an early break in the fourth.

Medvedev would break back before de Minaur took control of the match when breaking for a 4-3 lead. He consolidated the break with a love service game.

de Minaur broke again to claim the match 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 .

“I want to say thank you to everyone,” said De Minaur (in French) at his post-match interview. “It’s an incredible atmosphere. For me, I didn’t hope to be here in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros because me, on terre battue (clay), I didn’t play very well in the past years.”

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Djokovic defeated world no. 4 Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 to claim the title in three hours and 13 minutes.

Ruud had started well and raced to an early lead after breaking Djokovic in a marathon second game.

The Norwegian who was on the cusp of the top ranking when competing for the US Open title in 2022, Ruud was out to stop Djokovic from taking his 23rd Grand Slam title and claim his first.

Ruud consolidated his break for a 3-0 lead before Djokovic finally held serve.

After finding his rythym the world no. 3 broke in the seventh game to get back on serve.

Games went with serve until the players were at 6-6. In the tiebreaker Djokovic cruised to a 7-1 win to take the opening set.

The early stages of the second set was a mirror image of the first with Djokovic getting a break in the second game and then consolidating for a 3-0 lead. Ruud was not able to break back and Djokovic took a commanding 2-0 advantage.

The third set saw both players hold serve until Djokovic broke to love in the 11th game, that came on the back of three winners.

Now with one hand on the trophy it was Djokovic serving for the title. He raced to a 40-0 lead before an unforced error slightly delayed the inevitable win.

After seeing Ruud hit a ball well wide Djokovic fell to the ground to let the moment sink in as he was now the all-time Grand Slam singles leader in the men’s sport.

After the match Ivanisevic spoke about his player.

“Coming to this tournament, he didn’t come with unbelievable confidence and form,” Ivanisevic said. “I was not worried. I said in Monte-Carlo, I don’t count these tournaments. Monte-Carlo, Rome, anything. Only tournament that count is this one.

“He has this software in his head that he can switch when a Grand Slam comes. Grand Slam is a different sport compared to other tournaments. He switch his software. The day we arrived here, he was better, he was more motivated, he was more hungry.

“Every day he played better and better. I thought against [Carlos] Alcaraz [in the semi-finals], one-and-a-half hours he played unbelievable smart and unbelievable tennis. And today he just finished what we started actually in Monte-Carlo, to practise, and now it’s payday. We cash the check.”

“It’s fascinating to see, because sometimes you think, okay, now you have 23. But he’s gonna find, again, some kind of motivation to win 24, maybe 25, who knows where is the end,” he said.

“I don’t know [if the calendar-year Grand Slam is a goal with him. You need to ask him.

“I’m really sorry that Rafa is not here, but I say a long time ago before even I became member of his team that him and Rafa, they’re going to go over 22. I am hoping Rafa coming back winning one more, and Novak is only player who can win calendar Grand Slam. He was one match away two years ago, so he has a chance this year.”

“It’s still long way. But, you know, Grand Slams are the goal. I don’t know how many, but I think he has in his body a lot more.”

Djokovic will now head to Wimbledon as the favourite to defend his title and take his Grand Slam tally to 24.

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Late in the second set big German was running to his right when his foot got caught on the red clay and he badly twisted his ankle.

Immediately he was reaching for his ankle and screaming in pain. A wheelchair was brought out onto the court and Zverev was taken away for an assessment.

It looked highly unlikely that he would continue and so it was. Zverev appeared back on the court using crutches as he went to congratulate Nadal.

The German had started the match so well, breaking in the opening game. Unfortunately, his forehand went astray for a while and Nadal broke back and then won the opening set in a tie-breaker, coming from 2-6.

Nadal had barely hit a winner in the opening set but then found two superb down-the-line passing shots to help fight back.

That first set lasted 1 hour and 38 minutes.

In the second set both players struggled to hold serve despite Nadal moving to 40-15 in the first and third games.

Zverev was able to hold serve in the fifth game to move to a 3-2 lead, he then held for 4-2 only to have Nadal break again.

It was more common to see a break of serve than a hold of serve. The final three games were held and the players were to play a tie-breaker.

Instead Zverev was down on the clay clutching at his injured ankle and crying out in pain.

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The had lasted 3 hours 13 minutes over just two sets.

After the match, Zverev posted an update on his Instagram story, saying the injury seems to be “very serious”.

“Very difficult moment for me today on the court,” he said. “Obviously, a fantastic match until what happened. Looks like I have a very serious injury, but the medical team— the doctors are still checking on it and will keep you updated. Will let you know as soon as we know more.”

Nadal is into his 14th French Open final, having won every time he has reached that stage.

“It’s very tough and very sad for him. He was playing an unbelievable tournament and he’s a very good colleague on the tour,” said Nadal.

“It’s not easy and beautiful to talk after what happened,” said Nadal, who was by Zverev’s behind the scenes as the German was getting scans done to invesitage the extent of his injury.

“Only thing that I can say is I hope he’s not too bad. Hopefully it’s just the normal thing when you turn your ankle, and hopefully nothing’s broken.”

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