Jack Draper Defeats Gael Monfils to Reach French Open Third Round

Jack Draper secured a hard-fought victory over the popular French tennis veteran Gael Monfils at the French Open, advancing to the third round. The match, held on Court Philippe-Chatrier, was marked by intense momentum shifts and a passionate home crowd that vocally supported Monfils, who pushed Draper to his limits with his athleticism and showmanship. Draper, despite facing boos and the challenge of Monfils' resilience, especially in the fourth set where Monfils served for the set and led 5-2, rallied to win five consecutive games and close out the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Draper's strategic use of drop shots and mental toughness under pressure were critical in overcoming the physically taxing performance of Monfils, who had played a draining five-set match earlier in the tournament. This victory marks Draper's first advancement to the third round of a major on clay and continues his strong season, highlighted by a Top 5 ranking and a recent ATP Masters 1000 title. Draper will next face Joao Fonseca as he aims to build on this momentum at Roland Garros.