Usain Bolt produces season's best 9.95 seconds in Monaco victory in timely boost ahead of London

The nerves had been jangling in the build-up, but Usain Bolt gained a much-needed confidence boost at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday night with victory in his final race before the London World Championships.

Bolt arrived in Monaco in the unfamiliar position of sitting just 24th on the world rankings this year and with time running out to prove himself before the final major championships of his glittering career.

With the question of whether he would suffer a first defeat since 2013 hanging over him, the Jamaican broke 10 seconds for the first time this season to triumph in 9.95 seconds.

Having kept pace with the world record holder until the closing stages America’s Isiah Young held on for second in 9.98sec, with South African Akani Simbine third and Chijindu Ujah, of Britain, fourth.

Despite what he says, victory will undoubtedly come as a huge relief to the Jamaican.

As much as he had persisted with his pleas to be judged on his upcoming performance in London alone, there was no hiding from the litmus test that this race provided.

Triumph in commanding fashion and the message would resound worldwide that the eight-time Olympic champion was once again peaking in time to bow out with a successful defence of his world title.

But continue in the insipid manner he has displayed over the last couple of months and the doubts would grow even louder. Because even the unwavering support of his most ardent fans has been put to the test this season.

The double world record holder had raced just twice prior to this appearance in Monaco and looked sluggish on both occasions. Despite a lack of competition effectively rendering them little more than testimonial farewell events, he could not have looked more laboured when beating weak fields in Kingston, Jamaica, in 10.03 seconds and Ostrava, Czech Republic, in 10.06sec. They were not the performances of a would-be world champion.

To make matters worse, there were even suggestions prior to this meeting that he was running scared of Andre De Grasse – the person who many believe to be his successor over 100m.

The Canadian double Olympic medallist has not faced Bolt since the Rio Games and his coach this week claimed that De Grasse had been “booted out” of the Monaco 100m line-up by Bolt’s management.

The Jamaican’s team refuted that suggestion and – speaking after dropping the baton as part of Canada’s 4x100m team in Monaco – De Grasse also denied it was the case.

“That was not true,” he said. “I was never supposed to race Usain here.

“My focus was on the Worlds. I just came here to run the relay with my team-mates.

“Usain would never try to not run against someone. He’s a legend in the sport.”

Even without De Grasse’s presence, this was far and away the toughest test Bolt had faced since his triple triumph in Rio last year.

Simbine had already broken 10 seconds on eight occasions this campaign, while Ujah clocked 9.98sec to win the Rabat Diamond league only last week – his third Diamond League victory of the season.

For the first time this year there was no hiding place for the sport’s biggest star. His response was far from sensational. But he delivered – and that was all that mattered.

Earlier, Olympic and world champion Wayde van Niekerk came out on top of a titanic battle with Isaac Makwala to win a sensational 400m contest.

Unexpectedly headed as they entered the home straight, Van Niekerk hauled in the Batswana to triumph in 43.73sec, with Makwala just behind in 43.84sec.

There were more fireworks in the 800m as Caster Semenya was pushed to the fastest time of her life to win a thrilling contest.

The double Olympic champion maintained her two-year unbeaten record over the distance with a time of 1min 55.27sec as Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba and Ajee Wilson, of the United States, ran national records for second and third. Britain’s Lynsey Sharp recorded a season’s best time in sixth.

Laura Muir warmed up for her tilt at a 1,500m/5,000m World Championships double with third place in the 3,000m. Unable to live with Hellen Obiri, Muir left the Kenyan to forge her own path to victory, while the Scot ran an outdoor personal best 8min 30.64sec, with Eilish McColgan fourth.

Dina Asher-Smith also came third on her comeback from a broken foot as she recorded a season’s best 22.89sec in the 200m despite suffering illness beforehand.