Islamabad, May 30, 2025: Jack Draper defeated Gael Monfils in the thrilling match and book his place in the third round of the French Open.
According to Sky News, Draper outplayed the Monfils in four-set second-round contest, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the next round at Roland Garros.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Draper paid tribute to his opponent, saying, “I have to acknowledge Gael, yes this is my first time on this court, and what a battle, what an experience against somebody I admire as a tennis player, but also a guy who off the court is incredibly nice, such a joker, a magician.”
He continued, “He does everything, honestly huge respect to him, and I hope he is able to play here one more time again in the future.”
The 23-year-old acknowledged the difficulty of the match, noting that Gael Monfils flair and unpredictability kept him on edge throughout.
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“My brain was fried out there… I’m not sure if I am going to go to sleep because my brain is just all over the place with what he was doing out here. There were times when I was very frustrated, but I reminded myself that this is why I put in the hard work to play on courts like this,” Draper admitted.
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Despite the mental toll, Draper said he enjoyed a lot playing the match. Furthermore, he is now set to face Brazil’s rising star Joao Fonseca in the third round over the weekend at Roland Garros.
