Jack Draper succumbs to Paris heat to end Britain's Olympic singles medal hopes

The 22-year-old began very well against seventh seed Taylor Fritz but, in the full heat of the sun and with temperatures well over 30 degrees, his challenge faltered and he eventually fell to a 6-7 (3) 6-3 6-2 defeat.

From late in the second set and through the decider, Draper was barely able to chase down balls, with his resistance quickly running out.

This was a match that showed both why the Londoner has the tools to be at the very top and why a lack of physical durability may stop him getting there.

The frustration will be he could have been almost in the locker room before he reached his heat limit but he was unable to take the chances he created.

Draper, ranked 15 places below his opponent at 27, dominated the first set with his huge groundstrokes and serve but could not take three break points, one of them a set point at 5-4, and had to win it on a tie-break.

He then had six break points in the third game of the second set but again Fritz managed to save them all, with the American‘s serve coming to his rescue when he needed it.

The tide then turned in the fifth game, Draper double-faulting on Fritz‘s first break point of the match.

The American, who hails from southern California, was not particularly enjoying the conditions either but he was serving superbly well and he rolled through the deciding set.