DRAPER GIVES JOAO SCHOOLING

ACK DRAPER bullied Brazilian Joao Fonseca out of the French Open to stay Lon collision course to meet Jannik Sinner in the last eight.

- By Neil McLeman

Teenager Fonseca has been tipped as a future superstar - and Mats Wilander claimed that the world No.65 could join the Italian and Carlos Alcaraz in a new Big Three.

But Draper yesterday showed he is the player most likely to threaten the world's top two as he gave the 18-year-old a harsh lesson.

Foneseca has a fearsome but wild forehand and the rest of his young game has still to mature. And Draper mixed drop shots - which his opponent usually did not chase with looping groundstrokes to break his rhythm and his spirit.

Long before the end the flummoxed Flamengo fan was looking up to his player box in confusion as Draper won 6-2 6-4 6-2 in one hour and 46 minutes. This hyped encounter started in drizzle and ended as a damp squib. It was man against boy.