Did Jack Draper Shine at the French Open by Overcoming Joao Fonseca?

Paris, May 31 (NationPress) Jack Draper from Great Britain showcased his exceptional form at the French Open on Saturday, defeating the promising Brazilian Joao Fonseca with a score of 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the fourth round for the first time in Paris.

The match drew attention as it was Draper’s second ATP face-off against the 18-year-old Fonseca, who had impressively navigated through the tournament without losing a set until this point.

Unfortunately for Fonseca, the winner of the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals, he struggled to maintain a consistent performance. He found it difficult to cope with Draper’s strength and agility in the warm and lively conditions on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. The British left-hander utilized his powerful topspin forehand effectively, demonstrating composure and fluidity to dominate the intense baseline rallies.

The 23-year-old Draper won an impressive 93 percent of his first-serve points while limiting his unforced errors to 20 compared to Fonseca’s 38, based on Infosys Stats, to secure victory after one hour and 49 minutes.

“I played well. The conditions were quite challenging. I felt the first set was crucial,” Draper mentioned as reported by the ATP Tour. “After that, I managed to take control, utilized my forehand effectively, served well, and mentally, I performed strongly. I am thrilled to be in the second week here.”

Draper entered Roland Garros without a win from two prior appearances at the clay-court Grand Slam.

Ranked No. 5 in the ATP Rankings, the left-hander clinched his first ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells in March, overcoming Fonseca on his way, and subsequently reached the finals on clay in Madrid.

With a season record of 25-6, Draper looks forward to continuing his pursuit of a major title against Alexander Bublik, who triumphed over Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha with a score of 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.

“In my initial two rounds, I played at night, and facing Gael Monfils previously, I felt restricted in my shots. He’s incredibly quick, and the cold conditions didn’t help. But today, the ball was bouncing higher, and the faster conditions suited me better,” Draper explained regarding this year’s tournament conditions.

Fonseca had previously defeated Hubert Hurkacz and Pierre-Hugues Herbert to reach the third round in Paris. Earlier in the year, the 18-year-old surprised many by defeating Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open and securing his first ATP Tour title at a 250 event in Buenos Aires.

Despite the enthusiastic support he received throughout his matches in the French capital, Fonseca was unable to deliver a performance to satisfy his fans against Draper, frequently overhitting his shots. The young Brazilian exits Roland Garros with a rise of 10 positions, now ranked No. 55 in the ATP Live Rankings.

“João is a player who has emerged on the tour and captivated everyone’s attention, including players and fans. He is an extraordinary young talent with a promising future,” Draper commented on Fonseca. “I believe today’s experience might have played a role in the outcome. He hasn’t participated in as many Grand Slams as I have, but I see a bright future for him at the top of the sport,” he concluded.