Jack Draper edges out Gael Monfils to silence hostile French Open crowd in four-set ordeal

Jack Draper survived a storming performance from Gael Monfils and the noisy home crowd to see an Open record three British men into the French Open third round.

And British tennis is guaranteed to have a man into the second week in Paris for the first time since Andy Murray in 2017 with Jacob Fearnley playing Cam Norrie.

World No.5 Draper made his debut on the main Court Philippe-Chatrier against the popular French showman.

And veteran Monfils, who fought back from two sets down amid an amazing atmosphere in the first round, nearly repeated the feat in another late-night thriller.

And the 38-year-old revved up the crowd with every winner as he rocked Draper during a brilliant second set and also had two set points to win the fourth. The superb match was played in a great spirit with Monfils also applauding great shots by the Englishman - and Draper opened his arm to the crowd after a fourth-set winner to attract cheers and then boos.

But Monfils pulled up a couple of times before the end of the wildly entertaining match.

And brave Draper broke French resistance to win 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-6 to set up a Saturday showdown with teenage Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca.

After Draper took his first match point with a forehand winner, the pair embraced to huge applause at the net after 3 hours and 11 minutes.

Draper had looked set for a comfortable win when he took the first set in 36 minutes. He broke Monfils in his second service game to lead 2-1 when the Frenchman could not return a huge forehand. The world No.5 saved a break point at 3-4 after an exchange of volleys the at ent and took his first set point - and made a second break - when Monfils reached his drop shot but spooned his forehand over the baseline.

But Draper was to let Monfils and the crowd back into the match.

The British No.1 saved one break point at 2-2 with a forehand on the line. But on the second, his first into the net was cheered before he launched a wayward forehand over the baseline.

And Monfils made a double break to lead 5-2 with a brilliant backhand winner down the line as the crowd noise cranked up another level. Draper got one break back but the Frenchman took his second set point after a Draper forehand error to draw the match level at 1-1.

The start of the third set was crucial and Draper re-established his authority by breaking Monfils to lead 2-0 when the Frenchman missed a backhand down the line. At 3-1, Draper handed the break back with two wild forehands at 30-30 but then immediately broke Monfils to love to lead 4-2. And the No.5 seed took his first set point with a drop shot.

Monfils broke to lead 4-2 in fourth set and then saved five break points in a lung-busting seventh game before holding to lead 5-2 with a crushing forehand winner followed by an open-armed celebration to the crowd.

But the Frenchman then appeared to pull up in Draper's next service game and the world No.5 broke to get back on service when Monfils fired a forehand wide.

Serving at 4-5, Draper saved two set points before with an ace and a forehand winner before holding with two aces.

Monfils pulled up again on game point chasing another Draper drop shot and the world No.5 broke him again before serving out a dramatic win.

Draper said: "What a battle and what an experience. I have to acknowledge Gael - he is such a nice guy off the court. He is a magician. Honestly, huge respect to him. And no offence from the crowd.

"This is why I play tennis. To play in front of big crowds. My brain is fried. Not sure I will sleep tonight. My brain is all over the place from what he was doing to me out there."