Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie have propelled British tennis into unprecedented territory at the French Open this Saturday. Draper’s commanding straight-sets victory over Brazil’s rising star João Fonseca, coupled with Norrie’s win against fellow Brit Jacob Fearnley, marks a historic moment as it is the first time since the Open Era began that two British men have advanced to the fourth round of the men’s singles.

Draper, following a thrilling four-set battle with Gaël Monfils on Thursday, delivered a masterclass performance against the 18-year-old Fonseca, winning comfortably 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 within 1 hour and 46 minutes.

Norrie later triumphed over Fearnley, showcasing his own skills with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 in what was described as a Battle of Britain, all set against the festive sounds of fireworks and honking cars from Paris Saint-Germain supporters heading to the Parc des Princes.

This achievement marks a significant milestone for British tennis as multiple players progress to the last 16 at Roland Garros. The last instance of three British players reaching such a stage occurred in 1963, during the amateur era when the tournament was known as the French Championships. The landscape of tennis changed in 1968 when the grand slams opened to professionals.

Ranked No. 5 globally, Draper, at just 23, has emerged as the leading British male talent of his generation, delivering a dominant display on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. He showed remarkable composure against Fonseca, who enjoyed considerable support from the nearly 10,000-strong crowd.

“It’s not like anyone is against me,” Draper remarked. “This is entertainment. It’s two guys competing against each other. If you are here and you are Brazilian, you’re supporting João or if you are French and supporting a French player, that’s not against me; you want your player to win, and that’s fine. I don’t think it’s bad to have a lively atmosphere; that’s part of the excitement I play for.”

Fonseca, presently the most exciting young talent on the ATP Tour with a world rank of No. 65, still has room for development. His raw power occasionally leads to errors, while Draper showcased the ideal blend of aggression and restraint needed for success on clay.

He began strongly by silencing the crowd with an early break at 2-1 and another break at 5-2, wrapping up the first set comfortably. Draper maintained his momentum in the second set, effectively saving the only two break points he faced throughout the match at 5-4.

Although Fonseca managed to hold serve at 4-1 in the third set to avoid a bagel, the comeback proved too late. Draper finished the match smoothly, setting up a clash on Monday against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, ranked No. 62.

“João has gained a lot of attention on tour, from players and fans alike,” Draper reflected. “My experience helped today. I don’t think he has played as many grand slam events as I have, but he has a bright future ahead.”

Draper continued, “I played well; the first set was crucial for me. I took control early and used my forehand effectively. Today was a good mental performance; I’m happy to be in the second week and am optimistic for what’s next.”

While a potential quarter-final encounter between Draper and Jannik Sinner, the top-ranked player from Italy, remains uncertain, Sinner has already made headlines with his own remarkable performance, defeating Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 and conceding the fewest games in his grand slam career.

Sinner acknowledged Draper’s remarkable evolution over the past nine months, stating, “Jack is a player we saw had potential a couple of years ago. He’s a fierce competitor, and I’m thrilled for his success. He’s been incredibly consistent on tour since last year’s US Open, winning significant titles and excelling in every tournament.”

The all-British showdown between Norrie and Fearnley was more notable for the external distractions as players contended with the noise emanating from the nearby Parc des Princes. Norrie, at 29, utilized his experience to wear down the 23-year-old Fearnley, staying in control throughout the match which lasted 2 hours and 44 minutes. The unforced error count was telling; Norrie recorded just 28 compared to Fearnley’s 72.

In the women’s singles, 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva advanced to the last 16 with a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory over Yulia Putintseva. She is set to face her former Russian compatriot Daria Kasatkina, who triumphed over Paula Badosa with a score of 6-1, 7-5 in her inaugural grand slam tournament since changing her allegiance to Australia.