Two-time runner-up Dominic Thiem suffered his biggest setback at the French Open on Sunday, as the fourth seed wasted a two-set lead and was shocked by Pablo Andujar in the first round on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The 2020 US Open champion had never lost in the opening round in Paris during the seven previous seasons. On the other hand, it was Andujar’s first victory over a top five player and his first time winning a match coming from two sets down.
“It does feel very tough, as I was used since 2016 to play very deep in this tournament,” said the Thiem who lost 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 after almost four-and-a-half hours.
“Losing after being two sets to zero up, it’s very strange to me. I have to analyze it and think about what’s wrong at the moment. And then of course try to hit back as soon as possible,” the Austrian added.
Having lost to Nadal in the 2018 and 2019 finals at the clay Grand Slam, Thiem was bidding to win his second major title in Paris, but will have to wait at least another year.
“It’s a big learning process, and despite the loss, which hurts so much, I still hope I can bounce back stronger than before.”
Andujar, who beat Roger Federer at the Geneva Open two weeks ago, has now toppled two top-10 players in a single season for the first time in his career.
“It gave me more confidence in myself. I think that victory made me still believe, even if I was two sets to love down. So I tried to keep focused,” said the 35-year-old Spanish veteran.
“I knew if I could win that third set, everything was going to change. I thought, I really believed, and that probably maybe in a big percentage, small percentage, I don’t know how much, but of course, there is a percentage of that win gave me that confidence to believe in this win.”
Andujar will face Moldovan Radu Albot or Federico Delbonis of Argentina next.
Germany’s world No 6 Alexander Zverev had to overcome a two-set deficit to beat compatriot qualifier Oscar Otte 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 to progress.
The 24-year-old, who had just won his second Madrid Open title earlier this month, was pushed to the edge of knockout but pulled himself back to avoid the same fate as Thiem.
“I thought that in the first two sets he played actually quite well. He did exactly what somebody who is playing a top player in the first round of a major (needs to do),” Zverev said. “He already played three matches. I didn’t have the match rhythm yet. He did everything right I feel like. He was serving well. He was hitting the ball hard whenever he had the chance. I was reacting.
“Once I got the break in the third set, I started to maybe hit the ball a little bit harder with my backhand. My forehand started to be a little bit heavier, I thought, and I didn’t give him as many chances to play aggressive anymore.”
The two-time French Open quarter-finalists will play Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin, who beat Spanish qualifier Carlos Taberner 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-0, 6-2.
Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, arriving at Roland Garros with his win at the Lyon Open, dispatched local player Jeremy Chardy 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-1 to move into the second round.
In the women’s singles, second seed Naomi Osaka beat Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig 6-4, 7-6(4) to advance. Third seed Aryna Sabalenka and 11th seed Petra Kvitova also moved on but former world No1 Angelique Kerber was beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina to see her Roland Garros campaign stopped in the opening round for the third consecutive year.
