As Jack Kennedy stretched deep into his reserves in a superb match at Roland Garros on Tuesday, the lessons learned from training with some brilliant Americans kicked in.

The No. 4 seed, who progressed in an intense match of swinging momentum 4-6 6-0 6-4 over Thijs Boogard in two hours and eight minutes, has enjoyed some stellar moments over the last year.

From travelling with reigning Roland Garros boys’ singles champion Kaylan Bigun to practicing - and trying to return - Ben Shelton’s huge kicking serve while training in Orlando, the lessons have been plentiful.

Just this week he met Frances Tiafoe and on Tuesday had finished in time to watch the American star in his men’s quarter-final against Lorenzo Musetti on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

“I go down to Orlando quite a bit and, actually, Ben Shelton is based out of there and I'm very fortunate to hit with him sometimes,” Kennedy said.

“He's been a great role model, giving me some lessons and stuff like that, so I really look up to him. He's a great guy who is very invested with the juniors and how they're doing. That’s really cool to see.

“And I just met Frances the other day. He's a great guy who is very, very humble and very energetic. And when I see those guys on the practice courts, they're just having a great time. One lesson that they teach to us juniors is to just go out there and be yourself and have fun. Whatever the outcome, just keep learning from your losses and your wins.”

Kennedy watched and learnt from Bigun, who played beautifully to win the title at Roland Garros last year and is now attending UCLA, and is thrilled to be performing well this year.

He was a dominant winner in the opening round but then had to fight particularly hard against Boogard, who has played in qualifying at the Miami Masters for the past two years.

“Firstly, Kaylen is an unbelievable guy … who is very inspiring to me,” Kennedy said. “I didn't really know him until last year and we had that Europe swing together and he was giving me tips on what to look forward to and what to expect.

“As to the match, it was a roller coaster, to say the least. The crowd got into it a little bit and he was coming in hot. He's playing really well and I knew that coming in.

“I had to really lock in (and) I just reminded myself that, ‘Okay. He's going to have his ups and downs a little bit. No-one's going to be perfect out there. I have just got to stay with him and kind of weather the storm a little.’”

Kennedy, who hails from Huntington on Long Island, had the experience of playing in the US Open qualifying last year after performing well in a famous junior tournament in Kalamazoo.

The 17-year-old has already secured a scholarship with the University of Virginia that will begin in 2026 and is extremely grateful for the opportunities he has been granted.

“It was an unbelievable experience playing at the qualiies. Unfortunately, I didn't win it but it was just unreal,” he said. “The crowd was packed and all of them were doing chants. It was just goose bumps and it brought back every childhood memory for me. It was just great and just an inspiring moment for me, and hopefully I made it inspiring for other younger children.”

Kennedy will play Ryo Tabata, the No. 13 seed, in the round of 16, after the Japanese player proved too strong for French wildcard Mickael Kaouk 6-3 6-2.

Max Schoenhaus continued his good form by beating another French wildcard Pierre Antoine Faut 6-1 7-5, while No. 6 seed Benjamin Willwerth edged promising Indian qualifier Hitesh Chauhan 6-2 2-6 7-6(6).

American Jagger Leach, the son of former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, defeated Kuan-Shou Chen 7-5 6-3, but his compatriot Maxwell Exsted was beaten 6-4 6-4 by Timofei Derepasko, the No. 10 seed.