Family and friends, the curious and a few stragglers, crammed into Court No5 on the first Monday of the French Open to see if the fuss about Great Britain’s latest tennis acquisition, Aljaz Bedene – once of Slovenia and latterly of Welwyn Garden City – was warranted. It just about was.
Bedene lost in his first major under the colours – in the first round, true to stereotype – but he gave almost as good as he got against one of the best young players on the tour, Dominic Thiem.
Bedene is ranked 75th in the world and thus is officially Britain’s second best player behind Andy Murray, who has given him the nod in his quest to play Davis Cup for his adopted country.