British number one Jack Draper comfortably defeated 18-year-old Joao Fonseca to reach the fourth round of the French Open, staying on course for a potential quarter-final encounter with world number one Jannik Sinner.
The fifth seed in Paris, Draper overcame Fonseca with a decisive score of 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. This victory sets up a last-16 clash against Kazakhstan`s Alexander Bublik, who also advanced easily by beating Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.
Earlier on Saturday, Sinner trounced Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, continuing his run in the tournament without dropping a single set so far. The Italian is scheduled to face Russian 17th seed Andrey Rublev next at Roland-Garros.
Should Sinner win his next match and Draper defeat Bublik, the two players would meet in the quarter-finals. Their potential match would come nine months after Sinner previously beat Draper in the semi-finals of the US Open in New York.
Draper Reaches the Fourth Round in Paris
Draper took control from the start of the first set, dictating the pace of the rallies and moving effectively on the clay surface. He was quick to capitalize on Fonseca`s attempts to surprise him with drop shots, turning them into scoring opportunities.
His confidence carried into the second set, where he leveraged Fonseca`s unforced errors to apply further pressure on the young Brazilian. Draper secured the crucial break he needed first with a perfectly weighted drop shot that landed just inside the line, and then when Fonseca hit the ball into the net during a rally.
Draper fended off Fonseca`s efforts to mount a comeback as he closed out the second set and ensured he established dominance in the third set right from the beginning.
With two early breaks, Draper built a commanding 4-0 lead before the young Brazilian managed to win a game. Fonseca did manage to claw back two games, but he was never able to seriously challenge the Briton`s lead.
Draper: I Got On Top of Fonseca a Little Bit
“I played well,” Draper commented after the match. “The conditions were quite challenging out here. I felt that the first set was really important, and then I kind of gained the upper hand on him a little bit. I felt like I used my forehand effectively.”
“My serve was also pretty good, and mentally it was a strong performance from me. The ball was bouncing higher, which suits my game in these faster conditions. Either way, I`ll be prepared for my next match. I`m happy to be in the second week and hopefully can go further.”
This match marked the second time Draper and Fonseca have met on the ATP Tour. Draper also won their first encounter in Indian Wells in March, a tournament where he went on to claim the biggest title of his career to date.
Prior to this year, Draper had never won a main draw match at the French Open, having lost in the first round in both 2023 and 2024. However, with his current form, he is now viewed as a potential contender in the tournament.
