'You need to behave!' - Daniil Medvedev in public spat with wife as frustrations boil over during French Open first-round loss to wildcard Adam Walton
By Leon Imber
Published 27/05/2026 at 08:17 GMT+1
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Daniil Medvedev's entourage often bear the brunt of his frustrations on the court, but his wife, Daria Medvedeva, was not entertaining his complaints in the French Open first round on Tuesday.
Watch as Medvedev has tiff with his wife mid-match as frustrations come to boil
Video credit: TNT Sports
Medvedev was animated as he regularly remonstrated towards his box during a difficult first set against Australian wildcard Adam Walton, which he eventually lost 6-2.
Among his complaints was the sizzling heat at Roland-Garros, with temperatures up at 30 degrees Celsius in Paris during the late morning.
But there was no doubt that his overarching frustration was that he was simply not playing to standard in the opening exchanges.
"He’s fun to watch, isn’t he," Anna Smith said on commentary as Medvedev fumed with his coach, Thomas Johansson, after hitting his return into the net in the opening set.
"A few mutterings towards his camp. You’ve got to be pretty patient to work with Medvedev, haven’t you?!"
Medvedeva, watching on, was not a fan of her husband's venting, and was heard to say: "It's hot for everybody. Everybody is suffering. You need to behave!"
Medvedev swiftly replied: "When I start finding the court, I'll start to behave!"
Grand Slams have not served as happy hunting grounds for Medvedev in the last 18 months. He failed to progress beyond the second round of a major tournament last year, with his run to the last 16 in January's Australian Open his deepest since reaching the quarter-finals of the 2024 US Open.
In the TNT Sports studio, Alex Corretja concluded that Medvedev needs to have these kinds of conversations on court in order to vent his frustration, and likened it to Carlos Alcaraz's outburst in Miami.
"Well, it's funny... Daniil needs that," Corretja said. "He needs these kinds of conversations.
"Sometimes, he doesn't even think what he's saying. Sometimes, you say things, remember saying in Miami [Alcaraz said], 'I want to go home, I'm tired', and everybody went nuts, saying, 'what's going on, you can't say that'.
"Sometimes you can say things to relieve a little bit of the stress you're feeling."
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Medvedev 'needs these kinds of conversations' says Corretja after player's exchange with wife
Video credit: TNT Sports
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The first-round clash between Medvedev, the No. 6 seed in Paris, and Walton ebbed and flowed in an intriguing manner. Walton won the first 6-2, before Medvedev romped back to level with two breaks and a second set which ended 6-1.
The pair then traded sets 6-1 each, to set up a decider, and Medvedev looked to have banished his frustrations when he took a lead with a clinical break to love early on.
However, Walton fought back to put the set back on serve, and consolidated in gritty fashion, batting away three break points in a 17-point game.
And in a late capitulation, Medvedev was broken to love as his hopes of recovering his Grand Slam form were dashed by the world No. 97.
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Watch as frustrated Medvedev moans at his camp in heated moment
Video credit: TNT Sports
It extends a torrid run of form for Medvedev in Paris, now having exited Roland-Garros in the first round seven times.
TNT Sports expert Tim Henman believes the victory for Walton, whose preparations were largely played on hard courts in China, is the biggest of his career.
"That’s the result of his life, I think," Henman said. "On a massive stage at Roland Garros, taking out a Grand Slam champion, former world No 1.
"Admittedly, clay isn’t Medvedev’s best surface. He had so many chances, there were some epic rallies. To finish it off in five on a day like today, full credit to the Aussie."
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Watch as 'point of the match' ends in 'disaster' for Medvedev at Roland-Garros
Video credit: TNT Sports
On whether it is the biggest upset of the tournament so far, Henman added: "I think so, just because he [Medvedev] is such an established player.
"He’s been top 10 for a long time, his ranking did drop at the end of last year, but he has a new coaching team. His form has been improving, an upward trajectory, but this record at Roland Garros is not one he’s going to be proud of."
Walton will face American Zachary Svajda in the second round.
Medvedev: I don't want to find excuses
Medvedev was not asked about the interaction with his wife after the match, but was asked about the conditions.
He said he didn’t think the hot weather was a factor in his defeat.
”No, I don't think so. I felt okay with the heat. I mean, it's not easy for anyone to play in this heat, but I felt okay with it.
”Generally, I felt like we were ‘fresh’. I mean, in the fifth, like we were running and stuff like this, nobody was cramping or something. I don't think the heat played any role except that it's just a bit different to play in the heat on clay, but again, that's just normal.”
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Watch as 'point of the match' ends in 'disaster' for Medvedev at Roland-Garros
Video credit: TNT Sports
Medvedev also suggested cryptically that there is a reason why he often doesn't play his best tennis in Paris.
”I don't want to find excuses. I know why I don't really always play my best in Roland Garros, but if I say it, it's excuses. So I keep it to myself.
”I know that I am in good shape and I can play well in Roland Garros.
”It's just tougher for me, and first rounds are usually tougher for me, but I will always come here. Maybe I should consider playing a tournament before, which I usually don't do before Grand Slams, but I mean, when it doesn't work, why not? So that's the only thing I will consider next year.”
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