Jesper de Jong serves.© AFP
Paris
Jesper de Jong reached the second spherical on his debut at Roland Garros. The tennis participant from Hoofddorp defeated the British Jack Draper within the first spherical in a protracted five-setter, interrupted by rain: 7-5 6-4 6-7 (3) 3-6 6-3.
The 23-year-old De Jong reached the primary event via the {qualifications} and is now quantity 176 on the earth. Draper occupies thirty ninth place on the earth rankings. De Jong reached the primary draw of a Grand Slam event for the primary time in January on the Australian Open. In Melbourne he was eradicated within the second spherical by the Italian Jannik Sinner, the later winner. As soon as once more, a tricky problem awaits within the second spherical through which the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the worldwide quantity 3, is the opponent.
Each De Jong and Draper misplaced a service recreation early within the first set, however after that the rating was stage at 5-5. De Jong reached 6-5 and acquired two set factors on the Brit’s serve at 15-40. He used the primary: 7-5.
Within the second set, a break within the fifth recreation gave Draper the lead (3-2). Within the eighth recreation it turned 4-4 once more as a result of a misplaced service recreation by the Briton. At 5-4, De Jong additionally used his first break level, which instantly gave him a set win. Draper appeared discouraged and gave up his serve once more within the second recreation of the third set. However the Briton, a yr youthful than his opponent, fought again into the match and a tiebreak adopted at 6-6. Issues went terribly incorrect for De Jong, who didn’t make some extent after a mini break (3-3).
Within the fourth set, Draper shortly took a 4-1 lead, after which the match needed to be interrupted as a result of rain. Again on the court docket, the Briton didn’t relinquish that lead, after which a fifth set needed to resolve. After a break it was 2-2 for each and the Briton misplaced one other serve within the eighth recreation. At 5-3, De Jong then used his first match level.
Ball on a string
De Jong mentioned he was stoic and fitter than his opponent. “I had the ball on a string. This match is probably one of the best match of my profession to this point,” mentioned De Jong. ”’I used to be glad on the monitor. I did the whole lot proper and remained stoic. I had the ball on a string. Then you do not have to assume. A tennis participant can’t have a greater feeling.”
De Jong took a 2-0 lead in units and led with a break within the third. But Draper got here again and leveled the rating after an hour’s rain break. “Unconsciously, I used to be maybe somewhat too targeted on profitable after the lead. Alternatively, I’d have walked off the court docket with my head held excessive within the occasion of a defeat. I may have taken the expertise of this competitors with me to subsequent time.”
The rain break was not dangerous for the worldwide quantity 176. “I instantly sprinted to the therapeutic massage desk, as a result of I felt some cramping actions in my hamstrings and calves. Then I ate some rice and rooster. After greater than three hours on the monitor, the physique naturally turns into a bit stiff.”
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