Jack Draper crashes out of the French Open after suffering shock defeat to Alexander Bublik
Jack Draper crashed out of the French Open in a shock fourth-round defeat by world number 62 Alexander Bublik.
The British number one and fifth seed seemed to have his head scrambled by the unpredictable slugger from Kazakhstan as he slumped to a 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-4 loss.
Advertisement
It meant an end to Britain's hopes in the singles at Roland Garros after Cameron Norrie, somewhat less surprisingly, was beaten by Novak Djokovic about an hour earlier.
Instead, 27-year-old Bublik became the first Kazakh man to reach a grand slam quarter-final.
Draper had matched Bublik serve for serve in the first set until he was gifted the break for 6-5 by a double-fault.
The 23-year-old also broke at the start of the second, but from then on things just seemed to unravel.
Bublik, to his credit, was hitting the ball gloriously at times, his drop-shots repeatedly leaving Draper stranded.
The stress on Draper's face was there for all to see as Bublik marched into a 2-1 lead, with the Londoner simply unable to halt the momentum.
Advertisement
In a marathon final game Draper saved a match point and had five break points, but was unable to take any of them.
In the build-up to the match Bublik had compared Draper to a UFC fighter, but after two hours and 34 minutes it was the 6ft 5in underdog who landed the knockout blow.
Bublik said afterwards: "You know sometimes in life there is only one chance. I had a feeling that I was mine and I couldn't let it slip.
"Standing here this is the best moment of my life. That's amazing, monsieurs et madames, thank you very much."
Grinning from ear to ear as the crowd gave him a standing ovation, he hilariously cut short his on-court interview.
"You know I'm standing here like I won the thing," he added. "I could cry here. Stop. I still have a match to go. I'm a professional tennis player. I have to get ready."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Coco Gauff wins French Open: Michelle and Barack Obama, LeBron James, Billie Jean King and Carlos Alcaraz congratulate 21-year-old star
On Saturday, Coco Gauff etched her name into tennis history as the winner of the 2025 French Open. The 21-year-old tennis phenom defeated Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to win her first title at Roland-Garros and her second Grand Slam. After Gauff's big win, the young American earned the praises of a number of big names, who applauded Gauff for her tenacity and talent. Advertisement Former First Lady Michelle Obama congratulated Gauff in a post on X, alongside a video of Gauff's championship point. "Your determination, strength, and grace throughout the French Open has inspired us all — and showed us what's possible. Proud of you!" Obama wrote. President Barack Obama chimed in soon after. "Congratulation to @CocoGauff for an amazing championship at the French Open — the first American singles champion at @RolandGarros in a decade," the former president wrote in a post on X. "You make us all proud." LeBron James seconded Barack Obama's message, congratulating Gauff, who was a Team USA flagbearer alongside James at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Billie Jean King, the founder of the WTA, saluted Gauff on social media soon after her victory, congratulating her on her accomplishments. "Outstanding!" King added in the post. Gauff was also praised by another young tennis star, Carlos Alcaraz. "Many congrats @CocoGauff!!!" he wrote on X. Alcaraz will play in his own French Open final on Sunday against Jannik Sinner. Another tennis champ, Martina Navratilova, also congratulated Gauff on the victory. Advertisement "A great comeback and fight!" Navratilova, who won two French Opens of her own, wrote on social media. Notably, after Gauff won the match, the first person she greeted was director Spike Lee, whom she hugged before she'd even hugged her own parents. Lee, a noted sports fan, was one of many familiar faces in the crowd at Roland-Garros on Saturday. Gauff also earned some praise from actor Matthew McConaughey, who congratulated Gauff for her "2nd major and 1st on clay." New Balance, one of Gauff's sponsors, also honored Gauff in her victory with a cheeky congratulatory post. The company played off of the checklist that Gauff had jokingly posted after forgetting her racket ahead of the first round. Advertisement "Played to perfection," New Balance wrote, along with a checked box next to "Win Paris." And even the volunteer ball kids showed Gauff some love after the match. In a South Florida crossover, the Miami Dolphins and Miami Heat took the time to honor Gauff for her win. Gauff, who was born in Atlanta, grew up in Delray Beach, Florida, and has strong South Florida roots. Perhaps most unexpectedly, the Merriam-Webster dictionary also praised Gauff, alongside a video of the tennis star explaining the definition of the word "love." "Congratulations to Coco Gauff for winning her first French Open title! We really LOVE this," the account wrote.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
DraftKings UFC Promo Code: Claim Bet $5, Win $300 Bonus For UFC 316 Card
The DraftKings UFC promo code offer gives new users a bet $5, win $300 bonus for the UFC 316 fight lineup on Saturday night, including the headliner between Sean O'Malley (left) and Merab Dvalishvili (right). The DraftKings UFC promo code offer gives new users a bet $5, win $300 bonus for the UFC 316 fight lineup on Saturday night, including the headliner between Sean O'Malley (left) and Merab Dvalishvili (right).... Sign up with the latest DraftKings UFC promo code offer and start with a $5 bet on any fight. Players who pick a winner on UFC 316 will receive $300 in total bonuses. New users who start with a winning bet will receive 12 $25 bonus bets. This is a massive odds boost for any of the fights at UFC 316 this evening. No code is needed, simply click below to claim the offer. Sean O'Malley will get his rematch with Merab Dvalishvili with the bantamweight belt on the line. This is the co-main event alongside Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison. DraftKings Sportsbook should be a go-to option for UFC fans on Saturday night. Now, let's take a deeper dive into the details of this exclusive UFC offer. DraftKings UFC Promo Code: Win $300 Bonus With $5 Bet This is an opportunity for new players to boost the odds on any UFC fight this weekend. Create an account and place a $5 bet on the UFC 316 fights or any other available market. Players who start with a winning wager will receive $300 in total bonuses. The original wager must be on a market with -500 odds or longer. For example, Dvalishvili is a -305 favorite over O'Malley. New users who take advantage of this DraftKings promo can bet $5 on Dvalishvili to get $300 in bonuses with a win. While we expect to see a lot of interest in UFC 316 on Saturday night, this boost applies to a wide range of other markets. Use this boost on the NBA, NHL, MLB, French Open, golf, soccer and more. How to Register With This DraftKings UFC Promo Code Signing up with DraftKings Sportsbook is the only way to lock in this 60-to-1 odds boost. Answer the required information sections to set up a new account. This will include name, date of birth, email address, mailing address and other pertinent information. Deposit $5 or more in cash using online banking, PayPal, credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or any other accepted payment method. Place a $5 bet on UFC 316 or any other available market to get $300 in bonuses with a win. New players who start with a successful first bet on the UFC will receive 12 $25 bonus bets valid for up to one week after the original wager settles. Start making picks on everything from the UFC and MLB to the NBA and NHL. Other Ways to Bet on UFC 316 at DraftKings DraftKings Sportsbook should be a go-to option for UFC fans. Dvalishvili is looking to beat O'Malley for the second time since September. The Georgian-born fighter won their meeting at UFC 306 by a unanimous decision. The other co-main event features the champion Peña as a huge underdog against Harrison. Players can start with this $300 sign-up bonus, but don't forget about the other options for UFC 316. Players can get a UFC 316 parlay profit boost. Use this boost on a parlay or same game parlay on Saturday night. Winning on parlays can be tough, but anyone who does will receive an even bigger payday. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
4 hours ago
Gauff makes history at French Open
Winning her second Grand Slam singles title, 21-year-old Coco Gauff makes history at the French Open.
