Key events
It’s 6-3 4-1, Norrie leading Fearnley in the all-Brit game. Novak Djokovic takes the stage later. Tumaini will bring you the latest through the evening. Meanwhile, here’s his report on Jack Draper’s excellent win.
That concludes the blog for today. A demain!
So, as Bronski Beat pumps out and Coco Gauff puts on her leather jacket. “I felt I had to generate the pace most points. It wasn’t easy. I was missing some shots. Every player who faces her struggles with that. There was no pace and the wind was against me. On that side, the racket was five pounds heavier. It’s a lot harder to generate on the far side. We did an Escape Room and we got out of that…”
Escape Room in Paris: “Each brilliantly imaginative game takes place in a themed room designed with incredible attention to detail so you can really lose yourself in the experience. Are you ready to step into the game?”
Lifestyles of the rich and famous, eh? Bit like Hampton Court maze.
Gauff beats Bouzkova 6-1 7-6
A hold to love and the tie-break between Bouzkova and Gauff is here. Some huge rallies and Gauff gets to 3-1 up with a ripping forehand. Then 4-2 with a smash. Bouzkova’s played beautifully all set but has she the ability to get back in? Then she overcooks a baseline hit and Gauff seems in full control. Then, four match points are seized with a huge, booming backhand. The first one is netted, the second goes long. That wasn’t easy. Bouzkova played so well in the second set. Gauff will know she’s been in a battle.
Norrie and Fearnley, of which more later from Tumaini Carayol, is a set and a break to the good of Norrie. Gauff has levelled at 5-5, and Bouzkova looks like she has lost a little bit of heart. And perhaps energy, too. She still keeps her dander up to play out a rally to prevent a game point. Then pulls off even more heroics with a smash when Gauff was being sent all over the court. Big smiles now. She sees out the hold. Gauff must serve out for the tie-breaker.
Bouzkova gets to 30-0, and can get to set point. Gauff unleashes her weaponry, and some fearsome hitting levels the game at 30-30. Gauff then wins out in one of the best rallies in the match, her opponent missing her volleyed chance. But…break point held as a serve is too slow for Gauff missile launcher. Another break point…taken with a clubbing forehand. Gauff needs to find the first hold of the match.
Gauff is broken, and there’s a huge miss on break point. Bouzkova can serve for the second set.
Neither Bouzkova nor Gauff can hold serve. It’s 4-3 in the second set. She who can hold serve will prevail. Gauff still looks likelier.
The battle of Britain, Norrie v Fearnley is headed in the direction of the more experienced man, who will serve for the first set.
Bouzkova wins a scrabbling rally at the net as Gauff attempts to try and find her way back. Her huge backhand wins a her a break-back point. That’s taken but the serve is playing into the Czech player’s hands.
The Gauff serve is getting shaky, with break points at 1-2 down. And a double hands Bouzkova a clear second set lead.
Trouble for Coco? She won the first set 6-1 but has struggled in the second set, going 2-0 down. She lands a break point, and breaks back just when the set threatened to get away.
Gauff is now 4-1 up, and it’s a quiet crowd watching a match in which her opponent isn’t giving the crowd much to work with.
Madison Keys and Sofia Kenin are playing, and it’s 3-3. The Bublik 7-5 6-1 6-2 Rocha result means the plucky Brit battle of Fearney and Norrie is imminent.
Gauff, like the other favourites today, takes an early lead, and breaks the Czech for 2-0. She’s no longer wearing the leather jacket. It’s far too hot for that.
Gauff is taking on Marie Bouzková, the Czech, and in the first game, there’s a double fault but her power sees her to a opening service hold.
Right, to conclude the afternoon on Philippe Chatrier, it’s Coco Gauff, a previous finalist here, who arrived on court in a natty black leather jacket.
Zverev beats Cobolli 6-2 7-6 6-1
So, just Sasha Zverev really out there at the moment, and he’s smashing up Cobolli in the third set. He has two match points, but they are saved. So back to deuce. And the Italian seems inspired by his impending fate. Still, Zverev gets his chance to serve out, and is denied by a scrabbling Cobolli. Eventually, the Italian folds. Big, useful win for Zverev.
Jack Draper speaks afterwards. “Joao’s an incredible young player. He’s got a very bright future. I played good, the conditions were difficult. Hopefully more to come. The faster conditions suit me, I shall be ready for whatever. It’s not like anyone’s against me. It’s not bad at all to play in a rowdy atmosphere.
Draper beats Fonseca 6-2 6-4 6-2
Draper makes short work of the final game. Fonseca cannot return his bullet of a serve. That’s the story of the game.
Fonseca serves well, and that means Draper must serve this one out to land his three-sets win.
The bad news for Draper is that Sinner is in his quarter of the draw. The good news is that he’s 5-1 up, and facing an opponent whose resilience looks done for the day.
Fonseca is getting treatment from the trainer and is wincing in pain. He, in what looks like Fat Willy’s Surf Shack gear, takes back to the court. Draper has been wiping himself down with ice-bags.
Zverev wins the second set tie-breaker from Flavio Cobolli and now leads 2-0 on sets.
A double break for Draper now – 3-0 in the third. This isn’t Sinner level but it’s been hugely impressive
Draper takes immediate control of the third set by breaking Fonseca, and he holds serve, too. He’s 2-0 up and the next round is in sight. So much to do for Fonseca.
Draper, at 5-4, can serve for the set, and is 30-15 up. Fonseca, with the Parisian crowd on his side, roar him getting to 30-30 with a big forehand. Then Draper feels the pressure, and faces a break point after his drop shot comes back at him. Fonseca goes long with a forehand when he had command of the rally. Then comes an untimely double fault. But Draper battles back, and pulls off a mighty, mighty hold, and wins the second set 6-4.
Draper has a break, the first of the second set. That’s fine work from him, just as Fonseca was looking more settled. The Englishman’s power is doing the talking.
Lois Boisson, a French hope, beat compatriot Elsa Jacquemot, in three sets in the women’s singles.
To update, from the men’s Griekspoor prevailed in the fifth set over Eddie Quinn, edging the fifth set 6-4.
Fonseca looks in better touch in the second set. He holds serve to go 2-1. Elsewhere, Zverev took the first set from Cobolli, the second set also going with serve, 2-2. Draper is serving like a demon and it’s 2-2 as he bullies a forehand home.
Draper is in sparkling form, and rushes to 5-2, and serves for the set in under 30 minutes. He takes the set 6-2. Almost as smooth as Sinner. But not quite.
First blood to Jack Draper. He holds serve then bags the first break of the match at the second time of asking.