Félix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the second round of the 2026 French Open after surviving a marathon five-set battle against Daniel Altmaier on Court Suzanne-Lenglen late Tuesday night. The No. 4 seed prevailed in a deciding-set tiebreak following more than four hours of play, composing himself in the final moments to secure the victory.
How did Auger-Aliassime escape the upset threat?
Altmaier repeatedly pulled Auger-Aliassime into extended rallies and came close to forcing an upset, but the Canadian remained composed when it mattered most and found his best tennis in the deciding moments. The victory marks a gruelling opening-round test for the top-seeded North American man in the draw.
What happened to the top seeds?
Sixth seed Daniil Medvedev suffered one of the tournament's biggest shocks, falling to Australian wildcard Adam Walton 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Walton dominated with aggressive returning and fearless baseline play after Medvedev controlled the opening set, with the pressure visibly shifting to the Russian as the match progressed.
No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula also exited in the first round, losing to fellow Australian Kimberly Birrell 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Pegula won the opening set but could not maintain momentum against Birrell's comeback performance.
What other upsets marked the day?
French wildcard Moïse Kouame, 17, defeated former Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic in straight sets, 7-6(7-4), 6-2, 6-1, in one of the biggest wins of his young career. The hot Paris conditions and challenging clay courts created problems for many top players, while lower-ranked opponents delivered fearless performances throughout the day.
Auger-Aliassime will face his second-round opponent later in the tournament.
Sources
- CRUSH AND RUSH NEWS: 2026 French Open Day 3 Results: Medvedev, Pegula Out, FAA Survives. Published 2026-05-26.
- Outlook India: French Open 2026: Who Are The Seeded Players Knocked Out On Day 3. Published 2026-05-27.
Reported from public sources.