Medvedev becomes highest seed to fall at French Open

Daniil Medvedev became the highest seed to fall in French Open singles after losing to Australian Alex de Minaur in the men’s fourth round.

Fifth seed Russian Medvedev, 28, was defeated 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 at Roland Garros.

Medvedev needed treatment for blisters on his feet in the second set and lost nine of the next 10 games when he returned from a medical timeout.

The former world number one, who has never made it past the quarterfinals of the French Open, improved in the fourth set after leaving the court again.

But a bad backhand at the net delivered a break point at 3-3, which De Minaur took advantage of spectacularly with a forehand winner that kissed the line.

De Minaur magnificently used his speed on the court to keep points alive and draw errors out of his frustrated opponent.

With Medvedev addressing his team, De Minaur maintained his composure to keep the goal and move one game away from victory.

Medvedev missed a forehand well behind the baseline at 30-30 5-3 and a double fault from the 2021 US Open champion on match point was a sorry way to end.

De Minaur is the first Australian to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004.

Having never made it past the second round in Paris before, De Minaur shouted: “I love clay! I love it here!” while he celebrated.

Throughout the match, the 25-year-old was again spurred on by a young super fan, who he credited with helping him beat Jan-Lennard Struff in the third round.

De Minaur said he was inspired by seeing the boy enthusiastically cheering on each point and looked for him on social media to invite him to this match.

The young man was sitting near De Minaur’s team with a couple of friends, and the three chanted, cheered and celebrated after each point in favor of the Australian.

De Minaur said he would invite the fan to his quarter-final match, adding: “I might have to take him on tour week after week.”

De Minaur will face either German fourth seed Alexander Zverev or Danish 13th seed Holger Rune in the quarterfinals.