With Cameron Norrie withdrawing and Andy Murray not playing, Jack Draper led from the front in Paris. He opened his run for Olympic Games glory as in one of the ties of the opening round, it was in fact a crushing win.
Draper thrashed the former World No.4, Kei Nishikori without much resolve from the legendary Japanese ace similar to Naomi Osaka last night in facing Angelique Kerber in another tie being seen as close on paper. Sealing it 6-1, 6-4, Draper will next face Taylor Fritz in a real barnburner of a tie with Casper Ruud also lurking in the section below.
He took out the other Japanese hope in the draw in Taro Daniel as the two-time back-to-back Roland Garros finalist motored towards the second round. After. a close first set in which Ruud fell behind 3-0, he surged to a 7-5 set win and didn't look back. He sealed the second 6-1 to keep on motoring. One of the favourites this week in Paris, he certainly stuck to the script.
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Others through included Benjamin Hassan who made history as the first Lebanese player to win at the Olympic Games. He did so at the expense of Christopher Eubanks. The American got into the team due to late replacements and will have to go back firmly to the drawing board now after being easily beaten 6-4, 6-2 by the top 150 player. After his run at Wimbledon, it all seemed to be looking up. But it hasn't manifested itself as thus.
Also winning was Corentin Moutet in three sets over Sumit Nagal, Felix Auger-Aliassime sped past a tough test in Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-4. While Sebastian Ofner bizarrely defeated a doubles player and former singles star in Robin Haase who was playing his first match in some years and lost 7-5, 6-2. A bit better than Matthew Ebden that is for sure.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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