Jack Draper described his brain as "fried" after eventually getting the better of Gael Monfils in front of the veteran's home crowd at the French Open.
World number five Draper booked his place in the third round at Roland Garros on Thursday but was given a stern test by Monfils en route to a 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory.
An entertaining match ebbed and flowed and ended with the two players embracing at the net after Draper had just done enough to continue his run at the clay-court major.
Addressing the crowd afterwards, the Briton acknowledged the difficulty of facing such a dogged opponent amid a partisan atmosphere.
"Playing Gael in front of you guys... no offence taken," he said, having set up a meeting with Joao Fonseca.
"This is why I play tennis, to play in front of big crowds and to play in matches like this, whether the crowd are with me or against me, so thank you.
"My brain was fried out here. I'm not sure if I am going to go to sleep tonight because my brain is just all over the place with what [Monfils] was doing out here.
"That's why he has had such a successful career and is loved by all the fans. The players love to watch him play as well but not to play against him.
"There were times where I was very frustrated, but I reminded myself that this is why I put in the hard work to play on courts like this in front of you guys.
"It is something I enjoyed while I was playing, even though it didn't look like it."
Data debrief: Monfils finally mastered
It took a mammoth effort for the 38-year-old Monfils to attempt to stick with Draper, and by the fourth set, he was really clinging on.
Indeed, Monfils faced 13 break points in that set and incredibly saved 11 of them before finally succumbing.
Draper will be made to work hard for his opportunities in the next round, too, as he faces breakout star Fonseca.
The Brazilian is yet to drop a set at Roland Garros this year, making him the youngest player to reach round three without doing so since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
