Thiem knocked out by Andujar in French Open first round

Tuesday, 1 June 2021 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

PARIS (REUTERS): Two-time runner-up Dominic Thiem was knocked out in the first round of the French Open by Spanish journeyman Pablo Andujar 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the first major upset of the clay court Grand Slam on Sunday.

Pablo Andujar in action during his first round match against Austria's Dominic Thiem - Reuters

It first seemed that Andujar’s win against 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in Geneva earlier this month would count for nothing, but Austrian Thiem’s game began to unravel after a dominant start on court Philippe Chatrier.

Thiem, who reached the final in Paris in 2018 and 2019, had never lost in the opening round at Roland Garros, but that prospect grew as Andujar went for his shots and unsettled his 27-year-old opponent.

The 35-year-old, ranked 68th in the world, then held serve throughout to claim victory after nearly four-and-a-half hours, after Thiem made a total of 66 unforced errors.