German underdog Daniel Altmaier shocked fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the French Open 2025 first round, winning in four sets. With powerful play and strategic brilliance, Altmaier secured his third Top-10 victory at Roland Garros, while Fritz suffered a rare early Grand Slam exit.
In a dramatic start to the 2025 French Open, Germany’s Daniel Altmaier delivered the tournament’s first major upset by defeating fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the opening round. The World No. 66 played a composed and aggressive match to overcome the American star in four sets—7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1—sending shockwaves through the men’s singles draw.
Altmaier, 26, is no stranger to Roland Garros heroics. He reached the fourth round in 2020 and had previously claimed victories over Top-10 players like Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner. Monday’s win over Fritz marked his third Top-10 triumph in Paris and the fifth of his career overall.
“It was very special,” Altmaier said after the match. “I’ve been working really hard these past weeks to gain confidence and prepare for matches like this. I feel like I’m ready to face anyone.”
Playing with a fearless mindset, Altmaier showcased his trademark clay-court grit and tactical intelligence. Throughout the two-hour, 41-minute match, he dictated rallies with 44 winners—many of them coming from deep, punishing forehands that kept Fritz pinned behind the baseline. His ability to absorb pressure and strike at key moments was critical, especially in the fourth set, where he broke Fritz’s serve twice to dominate 6-1.
One highlight came during a stunning rally in the final set, which ended with an inside-out forehand winner that left Fritz motionless and brought the Parisian crowd to its feet. Altmaier’s physical and mental preparation clearly paid off as he outplayed a higher-ranked opponent with poise and conviction.
“The sacrifices every tennis player makes are unbelievable,” Altmaier said. “I have a long-term vision and I definitely want to achieve something big in this sport. That’s why I have to win matches like this.”
For Fritz, the loss was a bitter setback. It marked only his second first-round Grand Slam exit since the 2019 US Open and his first at Roland Garros since 2018. The defeat comes just months after his historic run to the final at the 2024 US Open, where he became the first American man to reach a Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick in 2006.
Elsewhere on Day 2, fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas began his campaign in convincing fashion, defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. The 2021 finalist extended his streak of first-round wins at the French Open to eight and now prepares to face Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante in the second round. A potential third-round encounter with 13th seed Ben Shelton could await.
While top seeds like Tsitsipas progressed smoothly, Altmaier’s victory served as a powerful reminder of the unpredictability of Grand Slam tennis—and the kind of magic that only Roland Garros can deliver.
