'I deserve a diploma' - Norrie stuns Medvedev in five-set epic

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros

Coverage: Live power commentaries crossed 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, positive unrecorded matter commentaries connected nan BBC Sport website and app

Britain's Cameron Norrie claimed 1 of his champion victories of nan twelvemonth pinch a five-set triumph complete world number 11 Daniil Medvedev successful a see-saw French Open first-round match.

Norrie had not beaten a top-20 subordinate since January 2024 and had mislaid each 4 of his erstwhile matches against Medvedev - including a gathering successful Rome earlier successful May.

The world number 81 started superbly but had to withstand a Medvedev fightback, pinch nan Russian often switching from irate to dialled successful arsenic he forced a 5th set.

Norrie past battled backmost from a break down successful nan decider to triumph 7-5 6-3 4-6 1-6 7-5 successful conscionable nether 4 hours.

Later, Sonay Kartal joined Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter successful nan 3rd information pinch a ascendant triumph complete Erika Andreeva connected her French Open debut.

It is nan first clip since 1973 that six Britons person reached nan 2nd information astatine Roland Garros.

Medvedev served for nan lucifer astatine 5-4 successful nan 5th but could not clasp disconnected Norrie, who past won 3 games successful a statement to seal victory.

Norrie had besides recovered from a break down successful nan opener and kept his cool arsenic Medvedev ranted astatine his container passim nan first 2 sets.

Norrie launched his racquet into nan aerial successful ceremony aft a agelong Medvedev forehand confirmed his victory.

"There wasn't a batch connected my mind connected lucifer point," Norrie, 29, said.

"I felt that he was a small tentative but honestly, it was a crazy match.

"I deliberation I merit a certificate for beating Medvedev because he's beaten maine nan past 4 times. It was an unreal match."

The Briton will look Argentine fortunate loser Federico Gomez for a spot successful nan 3rd round.

Medvedev will opportunity astatine almost each disposable opportunity that clay is not his favourite aboveground - but that takes thing distant from Norrie, who was outstanding.

Hitting pinch extent and pummelling his forehand successful particular, he stuck successful nan rallies pinch nan protect Medvedev and returned service well.

He went a break down successful nan first group but capitalised arsenic Medvedev tightened up erstwhile serving for it - arsenic nan Russian would do again astatine nan extremity of nan match.

After taking nan opener, Norrie marched retired to a 4-0 lead successful nan second, pinch Medvedev yelling astatine himself and his coach successful French and often gesticulating to his box.

Brave hitting gave Norrie a two-set lead earlier Medvedev recovered his focus, cutting retired nan theatrics and racing done 2 sets to unit a decider.

Having surgery Norrie successful nan 3rd game, each nan power was pinch Medvedev - but an error-strewn work crippled arsenic he tried to unafraid triumph gave nan inaugural backmost to Norrie.

Norrie past held service confidently and, stepping successful to nan tribunal to put unit connected Medvedev, managed to debar a lucifer tie-break.

In nan men's doubles, British sixth seeds Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash fought backmost to hit Australia's Rinky Hijikata and Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6 6-2 6-3 successful their first-round match.

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski besides advanced, seeing disconnected German-Russian pairing Andreas Mies and Roman Safiullin 6-2 6-4.

However, Emily Appleton and her Spanish partner Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers mislaid 7-5 6-4 to Mexico's Renata Zarazua and Alexandra Eala of nan Philippines.