Jack Draper 'shut up a lot of the fans' to dispatch 'explosive' Joao Fonseca in French Open third round as storming run continues at Roland-Garros
Updated 31/05/2025 at 19:08 GMT+1
Jack Draper beat Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca 6-2 6-4 6-2 to set up a French Open round-of-16 match with Alexander Bublik, who beat Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha. Draper breezed past his opponent, despite the 18-year-old having the support of much of Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Should he get through the next round, Draper could face Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals.
Highlights: Draper dispatches Fonseca as breakthrough run continues
Video credit: TNT Sports
Anne Keothavong praised Jack Draper for the way he dispatched Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in the French Open third round on Saturday, saying he "shut up a lot of the fans".
The British No. 1 breezed through his encounter with the 18-year-old, winning 6-2 6-4 6-2 to set up a round-of-16 match with Alexander Bublik, who beat Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha.
Should Draper win his next match, he could set up a quarter-final with world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who trounced Jiri Lehecka 6-0 6-1 6-2 earlier on Saturday to qualify for his round-of-16 match with Andrey Rublev.
After the victory over Fonseca, TNT Sports pundit Keothavong praised Draper for managing the occasion despite the Suzanne-Lenglen being vocal in its support for the world No. 5's opponent.
"We’ve seen this over time," Keothavong said on TNT Sports. "The difference in Jack Draper, the way he’s matured, the way he’s handled these big occasions.
"It was interesting towards the end of the second set when he had to save a break point. Just seeing him controlling his breathing and taking his time between points. He handled it well.
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'He was in the driving seat' - Expert reaction to Draper's hugely impressive win over Fonseca
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He really shut up a lot of the fans out there, who were desperate to root and get behind Fonseca, his opponent. He didn’t really give them too much to cheer about."
On Fonseca, she added: "He’s definitely one for the future. He’s still a little raw, but he does play some explosive tennis."
Draper, who also had to face up to raucous support for Gael Monfils in his second-round Roland-Garros match on Thursday, insisted that he embraced the rowdy atmosphere.
He said: "It's not like anyone is against me, this is entertainment.
"It's two guys competing against each other.
"If you are here and you are Brazilian, you're supporting Joao or if you are French and supporting a French player, that's not against me, you want your player to win and that's fine.
"I don't think it is bad at all to have a rowdy atmosphere, that's what I play for."
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'Draper has come of age' - Watch as inspired Brit downs Fonseca to continue run
Video credit: TNT Sports
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