SUMMARY
- French qualifier Terence Atmane's Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open ended emotionally against world no. 3 Daniil Medvedev.
- Atmane's visible struggled with cramps as the match progressed , which ultimately led to his retirement making a tearful exit.
In an emotional turn of events at the Australian Open, the journey for French qualifier Terence Atmane ended tearfully against world no. 3, Daniil Medvedev. Atmane, making his debut in the Grand Slam main draw, showcased his skill sets by securing the first set 7-5 against Medvedev. But there was more drama in the match than the shock first-set loss for the Russian in his opening round to a qualifier.
Medvedev came back strongly equalizing the set score by taking the second set 6-2, which soon marked a momentum shift in the match. However, the match took a distressing turn for the young Frenchman in the third set. Atmane, serving at 1-all, was plagued by severe cramps because of severe heat conditions at Melbourne Park.
Struggling visibly, he resorted to underarm serves, drawing a time violation for exceeding the serve clock. Expressing his frustration and anguish, Atmane smashed his racket, earning a code violation in the process. The visible display of his emotional turmoil underlined the intensity of the match and the physical toll on the debutant, playing his first main draw best five-set match in a Grand Slam.
Chin up, Terence Atmane.
An incredible effort on his Grand Slam debut 👏#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/GubCvUcdXv
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2024
Atmane, on the brink of tears, decided to retire early in the fourth set after conceding the third set 4-6, apologizing to the crowd for the unforeseen exit from the tournament. As Atmane collapsed in tears at the net, Daniil Medvedev approached him with words of encouragement.
Medvedev acknowledged the challenging conditions, stating that the physical strain on both players was intensified by the fierce battle on the court, and praised debutante Terence Atmane for his impressive performance.
Daniil Medvedev’s thirst quencher in Aussie heat is ‘Not Cold Beer’
In the intense heat of the Australian Open 2024, Daniil Medvedev faced not only a formidable opponent in Terence Atmane but also the scorching Melbourne temperatures. As the match progressed, the heat took its toll on both players, pushing Medvedev to make a unique mid-match request during his opening-round clash.
After securing the second set with a 6-2 victory, Medvedev found himself in need of some refreshing drink to offset the simmering heat. He pleaded with the officials for “cold water,” clarifying that he wasn’t seeking an alcoholic beverage with a humorous remark, “Not cold beer.”
Tough conditions today. Happy to be on to the second round. pic.twitter.com/tajC7ekPRE
— Daniil Medvedev (@DaniilMedwed) January 15, 2024
In a post-match interview, Medvedev reflected on the brutal conditions, acknowledging that the temperature rise coincided with his opponent’s physical struggles and cramps. The No. 3 seed highlighted the challenges posed by the sudden shift in weather, emphasizing the need for effective management in such demanding situations.