Frenchman saves two match points against Croatian former world No.12
©André Ferreira / FFTAs a resurgent Borna Coric celebrated his fourth Challenger title of the season in Aix-en-Provence earlier this month, Frenchman Titouan Droguet – a once heralded junior – faced a crucial decision.
Ahead of his third Roland-Garros qualifying campaign, the 23-year-old, desperate for more matches in an injury-marred start to the year, made the trip across the Mediterranean to Tunisia.
A sixth final at that level ensued and while he fell shy of the title against Zsombor Piros, those five matches proved invaluable.
Momentum was arguably in former world No.12 Coric’s favour when the two met in the opening round of qualifying on Tuesday, having compiled a 26-8 record this year on his latest comeback.
Droguet though had found his range during a week in North Africa and saved match points in a tense second-set tiebreak to break down the top seed on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, 5-7, 7-6(9), 6-2.
“I needed to play some matches because this year I didn't play a lot, I had a lot of injuries,” Droguet said. “I went to Tunis and was like, 'Okay, it's just the week before Roland-Garros, so I might be tired after, but I need some matches, I need to play more points.'
“There were tight moments there and I played them well. I did a really good tournament last week. I'm here and okay, the body is not 100 per cent, but with the crowd [on Lenglen] it was 200 per cent today.
“It was my first time on this court so a fair bit of stress, but in the tiebreak I saw he was tight and I just tried to get him to play more and see what else he can do.
“I tried to enjoy the moment with the people, with my friends and family and everything and I did it very well. The third set I had no pressure. I just enjoyed the moment.”
While yet to earn a main draw start at his home Slam, 232nd-ranked Droguet – now some 100 places off his career-best mark – had qualified once before at Flushing Meadows in 2023.
©André Ferreira / FFTDroguet saved two match points in the second set tiebreak
There he upstaged the 18th seed Lorenzo Musetti for his first top-20 win in the opening round and while the 86th ranked Coric was not as prolific an upset on paper or occasion, the Frenchman – whose junior rivals included Holger Rune and Matteo Arnaldi – rated it among his best given what his body had recently endured.
“At the beginning of the year, I had the abs [abdominal injury] in Montpellier so I stopped for one month, then I had something with my ankle, then difficulty breathing during two months so it was a really tough moment,” he said. “The other guys were passing me in the rankings and you can't do anything.
“This is a very different win [to beating Musetti]. I'm really happy to be in shape for the tournament but here it's first round qualies. It's not really the same type of match but the atmosphere was better here. For sure they're the two best memories of my career for the moment.”
Crowd loyalty is sure to be more evenly split in his next assignment against compatriot and fellow wildcard Arthur Gea for a place in the final round of qualifying.
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