"Money is not accepted as a means of payment at the French Open, according to Altmaier"
French Open: Daniel Altmaier Advances to Round of 16 for Second Time
Paris - German tennis player Daniel Altmaier has made it to the round of 16 at the French Open for the second time, repeating his performance from 2020. In the third round, Altmaier defeated Serbian opponent Hamad Medjedovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, becoming the first German player to reach this stage at Stade Roland Garros since 2020.
The match took place under sweltering temperatures, with the mercury touching 30°C. Medjedovic, particularly affected by the heat, sought medical attention during a 10-minute break in the first set, complaining of heat exhaustion. Despite this, Altmaier persevered,ultimately securing his spot in the next round after 2 hours and 48 minutes of intense play.
Throngs of German fans, including Altmaier's in-laws, cheered him on, with the player expressing his delight by saying, "Sharing these moments with family here is truly special. It's something money can't buy."
In 2017, Altmaier had already reached the round of 16 at this Grand Slam tournament. However, this year's performance might end up being his most significant achievement at one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, as it marks his biggest accomplishment to date.
Looking ahead, Altmaier will face Frances Tiafoe from the USA on Sunday for a spot in the quarterfinals. As it stands, Altmaier and world No. 3 Alexander Zverev remain the only German players left in the singles competition.
During the match, Altmaier initially struggled due to Medjedovic's resilience despite his health issues. After losing the first set unexpectedly, Altmaier regrouped and capitalized on his opponent's fatigue to take control of the match. He managed to break Medjedovic three more times, securing victory on his sixth match point.
Following this round of 16 appearance, Altmaier continues his strong form this year. He has set his sights on challenging for titles in the upcoming season and aims to be among the seeded players at the Australian Open next year, which would require him to be among the top 32 players. With his performances at Stade Roland Garros, he is already set to rise to the top 60, surpassing his best ranking of No. 47 in the fall of 2023.
Parallel to his successful French Open performance, Altmaier has demonstrated significant improvement in his tournament record at Roland Garros over the years. In 2020, he made it to the fourth round, scoring a surprise victory against Matteo Berrettini (then ranked No. 8). More recently, in 2023, he defeated Jannik Sinner (then ranked No. 9) during the French Open, representing another significant upset in his career. In the current tournament, Altmaier already made headlines by upsetting Taylor Fritz, the fourth seed and world No. 4, in the first round, marking his third Top-10 win at the clay-court major in Paris and his fifth overall against Top-10 opponents.
As of now, Altmaier's ranking in the ATP World Rankings stands at No. 76. He has earned $1,215,139 during 2023 and has started 2025 strongly, despite not having won any singles titles. His upsets against top-ranked players on clay have made him a force to reckon with in the tennis world.
In the heat of Stade Roland Garros, Daniel Altmaier displayed his tennis prowess, securing a spot in the round of 16 at the French Open for the second time in his career. With his eyes set on challenges and titles in the upcoming season, Altmaier is eyeing a climb up the rankings and a seeded position at the Australian Open next year.
