Draper Suffers Early Defeat at French Open
In a disappointing start to the British campaign at the French Open, Jack Draper, the world’s 35th-ranked player, was defeated by Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong in a hard-fought five-set battle.
The 22-year-old Draper, the British number two, struggled with his serve, getting broken nine times as the 176th-ranked De Jong capitalized on his opponent’s unforced errors.
“The match was a tightly contested affair, with Draper taking the third set in a tiebreaker before ultimately succumbing to De Jong’s persistence, who secured the victory with a 6-3 scoreline in the decisive fifth set.”
The double fault that handed De Jong a 5-3 lead in the final set proved to be a turning point, as the Dutch player subsequently served out the match for the biggest win of his career.
British Players in the French Open
With Draper’s early exit, the focus now shifts to the other British players competing at the French Open. Andy Murray, a three-time major champion, will make his return to Roland Garros later on Sunday, facing off against fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka in the night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Murray, at 37 years old, could be participating in his final French Open, as he has indicated the likelihood of retiring later this year.
Additionally, four other British players, including Katie Boulter, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, and Harriet Dart, are set to take the court on Monday and Tuesday as the French Open continues.
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