British hopes ended in the singles at the Olympics as Jack Draper wilted in the heat after a promising start against No7 seed Taylor Fritz.
The British No1 took the opening set but was undone both by temperatures well in excess of 30 degrees at Roland Garros as well as Fritz being the far more clinical of the pair in a 6-7 6-3 6-2 win.
Draper had nine break points throughout the match and could not convert a single won while Fritz translated three of four opportunities into breaks.
It raised further questions about Draper’s ability to last the distance in the heat having vomited in the bin at the Australian Open earlier this year when struggling with the high temperatures.
In the opening set, he threatened to pull off one of the bigger wins of his career as, despite failing to convert the break points, he deservedly took the first set 7-3 on a tiebreak.
He continued that momentum with six break points in one game alone early in the second set, which included arguably his best shot of the match, a superb double-handed backhand crosscourt for the fifth of his six break chances.
As ever, Fritz served his way out of danger. Seemingly under pressure on serve in the opening set, he somehow broke off the shackles and found his stride with one of the most repeatable and clinical service actions in the professional game.
Fritz finally got a first break point in the 19th game of the match and Draper, already showing the signs of struggling in the humidity, double faulted.
The American managed two more break points in the second set to mean Team GB attentions in the Olympic tennis now turn primarily to the doubles.
