PARIS — British tennis star Jack Draper made history at the French Open, securing a straight-sets victory over qualifier Jesper de Jong to advance to the second round while setting a new British record for the fastest serve at Roland Garros.
The 22-year-old left-hander fired a blistering 143 mph (230 km/h) serve during his 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win, surpassing Andy Murray's previous British record of 142 mph set in 2016. Draper's dominant performance marked his first main-draw victory at the French Open, continuing his impressive rise in the ATP rankings.
Draper's Reaction to the Record
When informed about his record-breaking serve after the match, Draper appeared genuinely surprised. "I had no idea about that stat until now," he admitted with a laugh. "I've been working hard on my serve with my team, so it's great to see that paying off in such a big tournament."
The young Brit emphasized that while the speed was impressive, consistency mattered more: "It's nice to hit big numbers, but what's more important is placing it well and backing it up with my groundstrokes. Today everything clicked."
Norrie's Dramatic Celebration Explained
Meanwhile, British No. 1 Cameron Norrie drew attention for his emotional celebration after defeating Pavel Kotov in four sets. The 28-year-old dropped to his knees and roared in celebration, an unusually demonstrative reaction for the typically reserved player.
Norrie later explained the outburst: "It's been a tough few months with some disappointing results. To get through that first round at Roland Garros means a lot. I've put in so much work with my team, and that release of emotion just came out."
The British contingent at Roland Garros has been particularly strong this year, with several key factors contributing to their success:
- Improved clay-court preparation with extended training blocks in Spain
- Strategic scheduling to peak for the Grand Slam
- Increased confidence from younger players like Draper breaking through
Coaching Insights
Draper's coach, James Trotman, shared his perspective on his player's development: "Jack's game has matured tremendously in the past year. His serve has always been a weapon, but now he's using it more strategically rather than just going for pure power."
Looking Ahead
Draper faces a challenging second-round match against 17th-seeded Norwegian Casper Ruud, a two-time French Open finalist. The young Brit remains optimistic: "I've played some of my best tennis against top players. It's why we put in all the hard work - for these moments on the big stages."
Norrie, meanwhile, will take on Italian Lorenzo Musetti in what promises to be a fascinating contrast of styles. The British No. 1 leads their head-to-head 2-1, but all their previous meetings came on hard courts.
British Tennis on the Rise
With Draper's record-breaking performance and Norrie's emotional breakthrough, British tennis appears to be entering an exciting new phase. Former British No. 1 Tim Henman commented: "What we're seeing now is the result of years of investment in player development. Both Jack and Cam represent different but equally valid pathways to success at the highest level."
The French Open success comes just weeks after Draper claimed his first ATP title in Stuttgart, while Norrie reached the final in Lyon. Their strong form suggests Britain could have multiple contenders deep into the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time since the Murray era.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on whether Draper can maintain his serving dominance and if Norrie can channel his emotional energy into another deep Grand Slam run. For British tennis fans, the 2024 French Open is already proving memorable.