Sawt Falasteen - Norrie outlasts Medvedev in five sets to reach French Open second round

Former US Open champion and five-time Grand Slam runner-up Medvedev was dumped out in the first round for the sixth time in Paris, losing 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 in just under four hours.

British number one Norrie, ranked 81, threw his racquet in the air in delight as he claimed his first win in five meetings with the 11th-seeded Russian.

Norrie had battled back from a break down in the decider, surviving after Medvedev had served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set.

"Disappointed to lose, that I didn't manage to serve it out," said Medvedev.

"It was a great fight. He played well. I didn't play good enough. So that's why I lost."

Norrie said: "Playing Daniil is not easy. It was always going to be a tricky match for me. It was just pure emotion at the end and pure instinct.

"I lost to him two weeks ago. He completely chopped me in Rome. In a Slam, beating him in five sets is impressive for me. I can take a lot of confidence."

Norrie said his semi-final on clay in Geneva last week against 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic had been "really helpful" in preparing for Roland Garros.

"I felt it was just a continuation of that match today. It was like playing the fourth set against Novak in the first set against Daniil.

"I managed to get it over the line, it was a crazy match."

The 29-year-old Medvedev's best finish in Paris was the quarter-finals in 2021.

Norrie, also 29, plays the second round in Paris for the fifth time against Argentina's Federico Gomez who rallied past American Aleksandar Kovacevic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.

"Massive forehand. Massive serve. I know on his day, he's very tough to beat," said Norrie of 144th-ranked Gomez. "He must be playing well to beat Kovacevic on clay. It's a huge win."

J.AbuShaban--SF-PST