Medvedev fails to find his feet on clay... once again

In a match that lasted three hours and 53 minutes, Norrie beat the former world No. 1 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5

- Shahid Judge

MUMBAI: Daniil Medvedev added another chapter to his complicated relationship with clay courts. He had once asked the Italian Open (which is played on clay) tournament director to "please disqualify me. I don't want to be here, it could get dangerous for everybody." In that same 2021 season in Madrid, he ranted to his coach "I don't want to play on this surface."

In time, arguably, Medvedev has mellowed down and learned to play on clay. But on Tuesday, against Cameron Norrie, a player he had never lost a set to in their previous four meetings, the world No. 11 was handed a first-round loss at the French Open.

In a thrilling match that lasted three hours and 53 minutes, Norrie eventually won 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5. "He's so tough to beat, I think I deserve a diploma for beating Medvedev... He's got me the last four times," Norrie said in his on-court interview on Court Simonne-Mathieu. A self-proclaimed hard-court specialist, Medvedev is a former world No. 1 and six-time Grand Slam finalist, winning the US Open in 2021. Most of his skillset, though, does not translate well to clay.