Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik delivered a career-defining performance at Roland Garros, stunning British No. 1 Jack Draper to reach his first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal. Bublik, ranked 62nd in the world, overcame a slow start to defeat Draper 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, ending British hopes in the French Open singles draw. His aggressive shot-making, particularly a devastating drop shot, repeatedly caught Draper off guard and became the hallmark of his impressive victory.

Draper, who had been tipped for a deep run after a breakthrough year that saw him climb into the world’s top five, struggled to match Bublik’s relentless pace and creativity. Despite taking the first set, Draper’s momentum faded as Bublik’s confidence soared. The Kazakh’s willingness to go for broke on his serves and his ability to mix up play with both forehand and backhand drop shots left Draper searching for answers and unable to regain control of the match.

Bublik’s win marks a significant milestone, making him the only Kazakh man to reach a Grand Slam singles quarterfinal. His next challenge will be against either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or 17th seed Andrey Rublev. For Draper, the defeat is a setback after a season highlighted by an ATP Masters title at Indian Wells and a surge up the rankings. Bublik’s post-match comments reflected both respect for Draper’s rapid rise and pride in his own achievement, emphasizing the unpredictability and excitement of Grand Slam tennis.

Earlier in the evening, Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title by dispatching Britain’s Cameron Norrie in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. Djokovic’s victory marked his 100th career win at the French Open, a feat surpassed only by Rafael Nadal among men. Djokovic will next face No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals, keeping alive his hopes for another historic triumph at Roland Garros.