At the French Open, only one trophy but so many triumphs
Sport isn't fair, this is the plain truth, this is the deal athletes accept. Not everyone makes it, not everyone's haircut like Carlos Alcaraz's makes the news, not everyone's bank balance swells like Novak Djokovic's (US$187,086,939 or S$241,500,000, at last count), not everyone gets on centre court. Players shrug, it's OK, but what everyone desires is a chance. That's all. To be somebody. To get a shot. To be one of 128 in the French Open draw. This is harder than you think. The clay in Paris, 80 tonnes of it, comes from a single brick factory, but talent comes from everywhere and feels as omnipresent as the dust.
The lowest-ranked player on the WTA Tour is No. 1,402, on the ATP Tour it's No. 2,133, and it's a suffocating, hardscrabble, physically punishing life. A player once spoke about cutting costs by sleeping in a brothel but didn't quite fully explain the economics of it.
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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Draper dominates teenager Fonseca to reach French Open last 16
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Britain's Jack Draper shakes hands with Brazil's Joao Fonseca after winning his third round match REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Brazil's Joao Fonseca in action during his third round match against Britain's Jack Draper REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Britain's Jack Draper in action during his third round match against Brazil's Joao Fonseca REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Brazil's Joao Fonseca in action during his third round match against Britain's Jack Draper REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Britain's Jack Draper in action during his third round match against Brazil's Joao Fonseca REUTERS/Denis Balibouse PARIS - Jack Draper's French Open campaign continued in style on Saturday as the Briton ended Brazilian poster boy Joao Fonseca's run with a ruthless 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory to reach the fourth round. The British fifth seed, who made it to the semi-finals at last year's U.S. Open, was facing a potentially tricky test against the flashy Fonseca, who at 18 already has his army of fans and whose dazzling play has caught the eye at Roland Garros. The left-handed Draper, however, was not impressed, letting his opponent shine at times but keeping things under control as dark clouds made way for the sun on Court Suzanne Lenglen. "I knew it was going to be a tight match, Joao caught the attention of everyone; today a bit of experience made the difference," said Draper. "I played good, the conditions were tough out here. The first set was really key, I used my forehand well, mentally it was a good performance today. Happy to be in the second week here and hopefully more to come." In another test of his claycourt credentials, Draper, who made it to the final at the Madrid Masters, will take on mercurial Kazakh Alexander Bublik next. Draper snatched Fonseca's serve in the third game of what promised to be a battle of heavy hitters. Despite a poor first-serve percentage early on, Draper held on to win the opening set after stealing his opponent's serve a second time. Fonseca whipped several beautiful forehand winners, but his game was marred by unforced errors while Draper stayed solid and precise, himself punishing the Brazilian with a few superb, Rafa Nadal-like forehands. Reading Fonseca's serve with an eagle eye, Draper forced more and more errors from his overwhelmed opponent, ending it with an unreturnable serve on the first match point. It proved a tough day for teenager Fonseca who only made his Grand Slam main draw debut at this year's Australian Open. But Draper had some kind words for his opponent. "How old is he, 18? Pretty impressive. I mean, I'm 23, so that's five years, and the amount I've changed in one year, so I think he just needs time," he said. "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." Draper will have British company in the last 16 after Cameron Norrie beat compatriot Jacob Fearnley 6-3 7-6(1) 6-2. It is the first time since 1963 that two British men have reached the fourth round at Roland Garros. The 29-year-old Norrie has posted his best run in Paris and will likely face three-time champion Novak Djokovic. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Draper dominates teenager Fonseca to reach French Open last 16
PARIS :Jack Draper's French Open campaign continued in style on Saturday as the Briton ended Brazilian poster boy Joao Fonseca's run with a ruthless 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory to reach the fourth round. The British fifth seed, who made it to the semi-finals at last year's U.S. Open, was facing a potentially tricky test against the flashy Fonseca, who at 18 already has his army of fans and whose dazzling play has caught the eye at Roland Garros. The left-handed Draper, however, was not impressed, letting his opponent shine at times but keeping things under control as dark clouds made way for the sun on Court Suzanne Lenglen. "I knew it was going to be a tight match, Joao caught the attention of everyone; today a bit of experience made the difference," said Draper. "I played good, the conditions were tough out here. The first set was really key, I used my forehand well, mentally it was a good performance today. Happy to be in the second week here and hopefully more to come." In another test of his claycourt credentials, Draper, who made it to the final at the Madrid Masters, will take on mercurial Kazakh Alexander Bublik next. Draper snatched Fonseca's serve in the third game of what promised to be a battle of heavy hitters. Despite a poor first-serve percentage early on, Draper held on to win the opening set after stealing his opponent's serve a second time. Fonseca whipped several beautiful forehand winners, but his game was marred by unforced errors while Draper stayed solid and precise, himself punishing the Brazilian with a few superb, Rafa Nadal-like forehands. Reading Fonseca's serve with an eagle eye, Draper forced more and more errors from his overwhelmed opponent, ending it with an unreturnable serve on the first match point. It proved a tough day for teenager Fonseca who only made his Grand Slam main draw debut at this year's Australian Open. But Draper had some kind words for his opponent. "How old is he, 18? Pretty impressive. I mean, I'm 23, so that's five years, and the amount I've changed in one year, so I think he just needs time," he said. "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." Draper will have British company in the last 16 after Cameron Norrie beat compatriot Jacob Fearnley 6-3 7-6(1) 6-2. It is the first time since 1963 that two British men have reached the fourth round at Roland Garros.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Keys battles past Kenin to reach French Open fourth round
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Madison Keys of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Madison Keys of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Sofia Kenin of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Madison Keys of the U.S. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2025 Madison Keys of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse PARIS - Madison Keys sharpened up after a sluggish start to save three matchpoints and battle past Sofia Kenin 4-6 6-3 7-5 in an all-American meeting between Grand Slam champions to reach the French Open fourth round on Saturday. Victory meant the 30-year-old Australian Open champion became the oldest woman to win 10 straight Grand Slam singles matches since Serena Williams' 16 match-winning streak between the Australian Open in 2017 and Wimbledon the following year. "That was a great experience. It was an amazing atmosphere with so much support here," Keys said. "I was letting her (Kenin) dictate a bit too much so I took a few steps back on the rallies to give myself space to swing and hit and move her around on her serve. "Yeah, it's great to see another day." Kenin, who reached the 2020 French Open final after winning the Australian Open that year, broke reigning Melbourne champion Keys in the seventh game and staved off a late comeback attempt from her opponent to hold for the opening set. The world number 30 earned her only win over Keys in four previous meetings by beating her on clay in Rome six years ago and she needed all her experience on the slowest surface to remain in touch in a tight second set. Former semi-finalist Keys pulled away, however, and levelled the match at a set apiece but quickly found herself a break down in the decider after hitting a backhand into the net. Kenin then endured some frustrating moments on serve as she squandered a 0-3 lead before Keys saved three match points in a tense 10th game and broke again, before holding to prevail for a memorable win amid huge roars on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Up next for Keys is another compatriot in Hailey Baptiste. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
