British men’s number one Jack Draper faded in the sweltering Paris heat as the nation’s interest in the Olympics singles ended in the second round.
Draper, 22, lost 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 2-6 to American seventh seed Taylor Fritz on the Roland Garros clay.
“It was brutal out there,” Draper said.
After a strong and aggressive start which led to the first set, Draper was unable to take any of six break points in the third game of the second set.
Fritz, 26, hanging on proved to be pivotal.
The energy seemed to be sapped out of Draper, who has struggled in the early part of his career with fitness problems, by a lengthy rally in the fourth game.
The world number 27 was broken in the sixth game and, from that point, the match quickly slipped away from him.
Continuing to wilt in temperatures of over 30C, Draper lost range with his groundstrokes and power in his serves as Fritz won 10 of the next 13 games to reach the last 16.
“It is the hottest conditions since I’ve been out in America at the start of the year, so I’m not used to it,” added Draper, who complained he was unable to access cold water during the match.
“My physicality still has to get better but I gave my all.”
Later on Tuesday, Andy Murray plays alongside Dan Evans in what could be the final match of the former world number one’s illustrious career.
The British pair face Belgium’s Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in the second round of the men’s doubles.
Katie Boulter and Heather Watson earned a superb 6-2 6-3 win over German pair Angelique Kerber and Laura Siegemund in the women’s doubles, with Watson teaming up with Joe Salisbury in the mixed doubles later.
Source Agencies
