French Open: Dominic Thiem stunned by Pablo Andujar in first round

Two-time Roland Garros runner-up and reigning US Open champion gave up a two-set lead

Dominic Thiem’s French Open campaign ended before it began (Getty Images)

Dominic Thiem has been eliminated from the French Open after suffering a surprise first-round defeat by Pablo Andujar.

Thiem, runner-up at Roland Garros in 2018 and 2019, gave up a two-set lead to lose in five against the 35-year-old after four hours and 29 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.

World No 4 Thiem will have had much higher hopes for his campaign at the clay-court Grand Slam.

The Austrian has twice reached the final in Paris before losing to 13-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal on both occasions, and finally won his first major trophy last September at the US Open.

The 27-year-old fell at the first hurdle in the French capital this time, however, beaten 6-4 7-5 3-6 4-6 4-6 by Andujar.

The Spaniard had never previously beaten a top-five player in the ATP rankings since turning pro in 2003.

Andujar did, however, beat former world No 1 Roger Federer at the Geneva Open earlier this week, eliminating the home favourite in three sets en route to a semi-final defeat by Casper Ruud.

“I’m really surprised, but I kept on believing,” Andujar said after his victory over Thiem.

“It’s very special for me. I’m 35 years of age and I didn’t expect this.”