Jack Draper believes his greater experience played a key role in his impressive victory over Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca at the French Open.
The fifth seed stormed to a comprehensive 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, win over the 18-year-old, who is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in men’s tennis. Draper was in full control throughout the 106-minute match and didn’t drop his serve. The Brit utilised the drop shot as he fired 32 winners past his lacklustre opponent. Fonseca struggled at times to find his range and ended up producing 38 unforced errors which was almost twice the amount as his rival (20).
It is the second time this year that Draper has produced a comprehensive win over Fonseca. At the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, he dropped just four games en route to claiming his first Masters 1000 title.
“I feel like both times I have played him it’s been hot and I’ve been able to get the ball rising on him,” Draper said of their match-up.
“The times I have played him, I’m able to get the ball back with quality more and more, and that’s he feels like he has to go for too much. That’s what it feels like.
“He served really well today at the start. I feel like I got a lot of returns back, and that puts pressure on, as well. I served well myself.
“I don’t want to say it’s a good matchup for me because I think I’m going to play him many more times and I think he’s only going to improve and get better and better.”
Fonseca was making his French Open main draw debut. Earlier in the tournament he scored wins over Geneva Open finalist Hubert Hurkacz and Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Overall, he has three Grand Slam wins under his belt. His other victory was in January at the Australian Open where he beat Andrey Rublev.
“How old is he, 18? Pretty impressive,” Draper said of Fonseca’s game.
“I think he just needs time. He’s already top 50 in the world and he’s doing incredible things. His experience and everything is only going to grow. More matches, more experience playing top players and more time practising around.
“I think it’s only going to go up for him. I think it’s going to be scary what he’s going to be able to achieve, for sure.”
Whilst such an emphatic win might be disheartening for Fonseca, Draper believes it will provide an important lesson for him. Citing his own experience of having to play Novak Djokovic in the first round of Wimbledon four years ago when he was ranked outside the top 500.
“It’s just time and experience, exposure to playing against the best players in the world. That only enhances your belief because you have been there and done it before, and you’ll do it again.” He concluded.
Draper is through to the last 16 of the French Open for the first time in his career. Until this year, he was yet to win a main draw match at the Grand Slam.
He will next play Alexander Bublik, who eased his way past Portugal’s Henrique Rocha 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.
