Jack Draper v Alexander Bublik LIVE: British No 1 stunned at French Open after Djokovic beats Norrie – UK Times

Emotional scenes as Alexander Bublik is in tears, overcome with the fact he’s just reached his first ever Grand Slam quarter-final.

“Sometimes in life there is only one chance and I had a feeling this was mine,” Bublik said.

“Standing here is the best moment of my life, period.

“I’m standing here like I’ve won the thing. I can’t cry here, let me be in peace! I still have a match to go, I’m a professional tennis player, I’ve got to get ready.”

Bublik gets to match point once again. AND THIS TIME, HE GETS IT DONE!

Jack Draper gave it his all – but he is out of the French Open.

Bublik gets a stroke of luck to go within a point of the quarters, hitting the top of the net with a drop shot that allows the ball to creep back in play.

The Kazakh then goes for another drop for the match – but for once, Draper gets there and beats him!

Bublik is looking nervy now – two double faults give Draper two more break points, but he is able to salvage both opportunities back to deuce.

On the baseline, Draper gives Bublik a taste of his own medicine as he floats a drop shot over the net. But Bublik is too good once again, keeping Draper running and blasting a forehand to force deuce once more.

Bublik, serving for a piece of Kazakh history.

He kicks things off with an ace, but it’s Draper who lifts the crowd as he produces an UNBELIEVABLE shot. The shot looks long gone as Draper chases it towards the backboard, but the British No 1 is able to flick the risk and fire it back just over the net!

Bublik then goes long before Draper calls a correct wide to give the Brit two break points. A huge lifeline in the French Open.

But it’s two missed opportunities as a wild forehand catches the top of his racket and flies into the crowd!

Draper needs to hold to stay in the French Open – and he does, relatively comfortably.

It’s now up to Bublik to keep his nerve.

Same again from Bublik. Draper is staying in that same position, deep behind the baseline, and is getting caught out with the drop shot.

After falling 30-0 down, Draper is able to level the score after a moment of hesitation from Bublik – maybe the gravity of what he is close to achieving had finally dawned on him.

But he quickly composes himself, smashing an ace before securing the game.

Bublik is on the verge of doing something he said he “didn’t know” how to do: beat Jack Draper.

Must-win service game for Draper.

After losing the first point, he gets a reprieve as a shot that Bublik perceived was long is adjudged as in by the umpire.

Bublik nets to give Draper a 40-15 advantage, and despite falling victim of another drop shot, the British No 1 is able to see out the game.

Draper is showing that he is still in this. He needs a break and goes 0-30 up, pulling out two superb shots to put Bublik under pressure.

But from there, it’s more of the same for the Kazakh. An emphatic ace leaves Draper against the backboard, before catching the Brit out with another drop shot.

Bublik remains dominant overhead and smashes past Draper before firing a huge forehand beyond his reach. Four points in a row and Bublik holds.

Draper goes 40-0 up and looks on course for a strong hold.

Bublik threatens to derail when he hits his THIRTY-FIRST drop shot of the game – which Draper does get to but can only net.

However, the Brit is able to blast a powerful serve to no return at 40-30 to ensure he stays within a break of Bublik.

Bublik is just relentless on serve. Draper has to work for every shot, let alone every point – and at 40-15, it looks like Bublik is on his way to another simple hold.

However, the Brit is able to fightback and force deuce. Maybe he can test the nerve of Bublik here.

But no. He wrongfoots Draper twice, finishing off the game by dummying a powerful forehand and instead pulling out, you guessed it, a trademark drop.