Jack Draper laid down another marker in his standout season on Saturday at Roland Garros, where he dispatched the supremely talented #NextGenATP Brazilian Joao Fonseca 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the fourth round in Paris for the first time.
Hype was high surrounding Draper’s second Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with 18-year-old Fonseca, who had not dropped a set en route to reaching the third round at a major for the first time.
However, the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion Fonseca struggled for consistency. He was unable to live with Draper’s power and physicality in the hot and lively conditions on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. The British lefty hit his heavy topspin forehand with depth and was relaxed for large periods, striking with liquid power to dominate the brutal baseline exchanges.
The 23-year-old won 93 per cent of his first-serve points and committed 20 unforced errors to Fonseca’s 38, according to Infosys Stats, to advance after one hour and 49 minutes.
"I played good. The conditions were quite difficult out here. I felt that the first set was really key," Draper said. "Then I kind of got on top of him, used my forehand well, served well and mentally it was a good performance from me and I am happy to be in the second week here."
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A commanding 6-2 6-4 6-2 win over Fonseca takes @jackdraper0 into the Round of 16!@rolandgarros | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/YE0mQKpv3Y
Draper arrived at Roland Garros having not won a match in two previous appearances at the clay-court major. Physically firing, No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings is a different proposition this year, though.
The lefty captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells in March – defeating Fonseca en route – and then reached the championship match on clay in Madrid. Holding a 25-6 record on the season, Draper will continue the quest for his first major against Alexander Bublik, who beat Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.
"In my first two rounds I played in the night time and playing against Gael [Monfils] the other night I didn't feel I could hit the ball past him," Draper said on the conditions at this year's Roland Garros. "The guy is so quick and it was so cold. But today the ball was getting up more and the faster conditions help me more."
Fonseca defeated Hubert Hurkacz and Pierre-Hugues Herbert to advance to the third round in Paris. Earlier this season the 18-year-old upset Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open and captured his maiden ATP Tour title at the 250 event in Buenos Aires.
The Brazilian was backed by vocal support throughout his three matches in the French capital but was unable to give them anything to cheer about against Draper, overhitting all too often. The 18-year-old leaves Roland Garros up 10 places at No. 55 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
"Joao is someone who has come onto the Tour and caught the attention of everyone, the players, the fans. He is an incredible young player and so much to come from him," Draper said on Fonseca. "I think today maybe a bit of experience [was the difference]. He hasn't played as many Grand Slams as myself but I think he has an incredibly bright future at the top of the game."
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