Jack Draper held off house favorite Gael Monfils in a four-set thriller to succeed in the third spherical of the French Open.
The British males’s No 1 beat the ever-popular French showman 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-5 to arrange an interesting match-up with Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca after his victory over Pierre-Hugues Herbert earlier within the day.
Draper weathered the storm of a fired-up French crowd and a few customary moments of Monfils magic to point out great poise in quashing the prospect of a five-set marathon.
Monfils squandered the chance to ship it to a decider when he was unable to serve out from 5-3 earlier than additionally seeing two set factors go him by at 5-4.
“I’ve to acknowledge Gael, sure that is my first time on this courtroom and what a battle, what an expertise towards someone I like as a tennis participant, but in addition a man who off the courtroom is extremely good, such a joker, a magician,” stated Draper on TNT Sports activities.
“He does the whole lot, actually big respect to him and I hope he is ready to play right here yet one more time once more sooner or later.”
Draper had appeared in command on his technique to a snug opening set earlier than a spirited Monfils absorbed the power of an increasingly-loud French crowd on his technique to taking the second.
Draper was nonetheless enjoying removed from his cleanest tennis within the third however would clinch it with a drop volley to revive his benefit within the match.
His errors drew him again into hassle within the fourth as Monfils threatened to take him the space, the 38-year-old benefiting from a theatrical, virtually slow-motion, double-bounce off the online on his technique to a 5-3 lead.
Draper embraces Monfils after the match
However the veteran had lengthy been tiring, and Draper’s power would pull him by way of as he sensed his opponent slowing whereas reeling off 4 consecutive video games on his ultimate march to victory.
“My mind was fried on the market,” added Draper. “I am undecided if I’m going to fall asleep as a result of my mind is simply everywhere with what he was doing out right here.
“There have been occasions the place I used to be very pissed off however I reminded myself that this is the reason I put within the exhausting work to play on courts like this. It’s one thing I loved whereas I used to be enjoying – though it did not appear like it.”
It marks the primary time since 1968 that three British males are by way of to the third spherical at Roland-Garros, with Draper joined by Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley.
Monfils drained in direction of the top of the match
Norrie had earlier overwhelmed Argentine qualifier Federico Gomez 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 6-1, whereas Fearnley had been main 6-3 4-4 when opponent Ugo Humbert retired injured of their second-round conflict. The 2 will now go face to face in an all-British third-round tie.
British girls’s No 1 Katie Boulter in the meantime suffered a 6-1 6-3 defeat to Australian Open champion Madison Keys after a efficiency marred by 9 double faults.
“If you do not have an amazing serving day towards somebody like that, you are all the time below stress,” stated Boulter.
“I feel virtually each service sport I hit a double-fault. In opposition to somebody of that calibre, you simply cannot afford to do this.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions, in addition to the US Open in New York, stay on Sky Sports activities in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra stay sport this yr at no further value. Discover out extra right here.
Jack Draper held off house favorite Gael Monfils in a four-set thriller to succeed in the third spherical of the French Open.
The British males’s No 1 beat the ever-popular French showman 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-5 to arrange an interesting match-up with Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca after his victory over Pierre-Hugues Herbert earlier within the day.
Draper weathered the storm of a fired-up French crowd and a few customary moments of Monfils magic to point out great poise in quashing the prospect of a five-set marathon.
Monfils squandered the chance to ship it to a decider when he was unable to serve out from 5-3 earlier than additionally seeing two set factors go him by at 5-4.
“I’ve to acknowledge Gael, sure that is my first time on this courtroom and what a battle, what an expertise towards someone I like as a tennis participant, but in addition a man who off the courtroom is extremely good, such a joker, a magician,” stated Draper on TNT Sports activities.
“He does the whole lot, actually big respect to him and I hope he is ready to play right here yet one more time once more sooner or later.”
Draper had appeared in command on his technique to a snug opening set earlier than a spirited Monfils absorbed the power of an increasingly-loud French crowd on his technique to taking the second.
Draper was nonetheless enjoying removed from his cleanest tennis within the third however would clinch it with a drop volley to revive his benefit within the match.
His errors drew him again into hassle within the fourth as Monfils threatened to take him the space, the 38-year-old benefiting from a theatrical, virtually slow-motion, double-bounce off the online on his technique to a 5-3 lead.
Draper embraces Monfils after the match
However the veteran had lengthy been tiring, and Draper’s power would pull him by way of as he sensed his opponent slowing whereas reeling off 4 consecutive video games on his ultimate march to victory.
“My mind was fried on the market,” added Draper. “I am undecided if I’m going to fall asleep as a result of my mind is simply everywhere with what he was doing out right here.
“There have been occasions the place I used to be very pissed off however I reminded myself that this is the reason I put within the exhausting work to play on courts like this. It’s one thing I loved whereas I used to be enjoying – though it did not appear like it.”
It marks the primary time since 1968 that three British males are by way of to the third spherical at Roland-Garros, with Draper joined by Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley.
Monfils drained in direction of the top of the match
Norrie had earlier overwhelmed Argentine qualifier Federico Gomez 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 6-1, whereas Fearnley had been main 6-3 4-4 when opponent Ugo Humbert retired injured of their second-round conflict. The 2 will now go face to face in an all-British third-round tie.
British girls’s No 1 Katie Boulter in the meantime suffered a 6-1 6-3 defeat to Australian Open champion Madison Keys after a efficiency marred by 9 double faults.
“If you do not have an amazing serving day towards somebody like that, you are all the time below stress,” stated Boulter.
“I feel virtually each service sport I hit a double-fault. In opposition to somebody of that calibre, you simply cannot afford to do this.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions, in addition to the US Open in New York, stay on Sky Sports activities in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra stay sport this yr at no further value. Discover out extra right here.
