Spain’s Pablo Andujar met Roland-Garros two times finalist Dominic Thiem on Court Philippe-Chatrier, to play the first round of the Grand Slam competition, with the latter as the favorite.
The world No. 4 was two sets up when Andujar began to produce what would turn out to be the 35-year-old biggest career win.
On Sunday, the four-time ATP Tour titlist claimed his first victory over a Top 5, rallying from two sets down for the first time in his career.
He edged the reigning US Open champion in five sets, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, after four hours and 28 minutes.
It marked the first-round exit of the Austrian player in eight appearances at the French Open.
The 27-year-old took the first set 6-4 in 56 minutes, hitting 17 winners and showing no signs of what was yet to come.
In the second set, despite Andujar’s frustration at times - he suffered four breaks of serve, the world No. 68 managed to find the rhythm, though it was not enough to stop the fourth seed from claiming a 7-5 win.
Andujar faced the third set with confidence, starting a solid comeback while Thiem struggled with his serve.
The experienced player opened up a 4-1 gap, and though his rival tried to narrow it, the Spaniard rounded up a 6-1 victory; the rest is now part of Roland-Garros history.
After the Grand Slam clash in Paris, Thiem commented: “It’s kind of the first situation that I’m facing [this], because basically all my career, the past five, six, seven years, [I] was [on the] way up all the time.
“I was sometimes dropped from [No.] 5 to 8 in the Rankings, but never had losses like that, especially here [at] Roland-Garros.”
Thiem admitted that after conquering the US Open singles title last September, something changed.
He said that it was amazing “to reach such a big goal”, but “at the same time, something is different after.”
Adding: “It’s a big learning process, and despite the loss, which hurts so much, I still hope I can bounce back stronger than before. But, right now, I don’t know when [that] moment is coming.”
Last month, Austria’s number one racquet withdrew from the Serbia Open due to a knee injury.
Through his official website, he stated at the time: “It is not a big issue, but I need to take care of it. I am definitely not fit enough to play next week.”
Further remarking: “There is no doubt, the big goal till the summer is the French Open in Paris, I must be at my best.”
Early in May, he reached the semifinal at the Mutua Madrid Open - which he lost to Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-3, then contested the Italian Open and the Lyon Open, exiting early at both tournaments.
In his post-match press conference, Andujar outlined: “I’m a guy who has never really been on the front covers or in the spotlight, and for me, these two victories are like Father Christmas came early.”
The Cuenca native took out Roger Federer in the first round of the Gonet Geneva Open two weeks ago.
The world No. 8 was playing his first match since reaching the Qatar Open quarter-finals.
Into the second round in Paris for a seventh time, Andujar awaits for the winner of the match between Radu Albot and Federico Delbonis.