Monfils magic runs out in Draper defeat

British fifth seed sets up Fonseca meeting with four-set victory on Chatrier

Jack Draper, Roland-Garros 2025, second round©Loïc Wacziak / FFT
 - Victoria Chiesa

Jack Draper (5) bt Gael Monfils 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5

After escaping his opening match at Roland-Garros from two-sets-to-love down against Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien on Tuesday, an obvious question was asked of Gael Monfils: Just how much would he have left in the tank for his second-round showdown against No.5 seed Jack Draper?

The answer, as it turned out, was almost enough for another magical night. After three hours and 11 minutes, the 38-year-old Frenchman was nearly able to push the fifth seed to another fifth set — again on his favourite stage, under the Chatrier lights — but fell short instead in a titanic four sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Burning the midnight oil (again)

Commentating on the match for American television, former top 20 player Sam Querrey dubbed the fourth set between the two “one of the best sets of tennis I’ve ever watched in my life”.

The 2017 Wimbledon semifinalist wasn’t exercising hyperbole — and the action before then was tense, too. The first two sets were an exercise in contrast: Draper easing to an early lead before Monfils squeaked out the second set, successfully serving it out at the second time of asking.

After Draper took the third, a tiring Monfils made his push for a decider, with wife and fellow tennis star Elina Svitolina looking on. The Frenchman saved a staggering 10 break points across his first four service games, with two of them stretching to seven deuces. Eventually he held a 5-2 lead — but unfortunately for Monfils and the Chatrier faithful in the stands, from there Draper reeled off the last five games.

The key sequence late in the set came after Draper broke Monfils from 30-0 to get back on serve. Staring down two set points, the lefty saved the first with one of only five aces in the match, and ended a 15-shot rally with a deft drop shot to swat away the second.

Jack Draper, Roland-Garros 2025, second round©Cédric Lecocq / FFT

Draper salutes ‘magician’ Monfils

The two competitors shared a long, endearing embrace at the net after the match — and after coming out victorious on his Chatrier debut, Draper heaped praise on Monfils.

“What a battle, what an experience against someone I admire as a tennis player, but off the court, the guy’s incredibly nice. He’s such a joker, he’s a magician, he does everything. So honestly, huge respect to him, and I hope he’s able to play one more time in the future,” he said.

“Playing Gael against [the crowd]… this is why I play tennis. To play in front of big crowds, to play in front of crowds whether they’re with me or against me — that’s the entertainment of tennis, and that’s why we play.

“My brain was fried out here. I’m not sure if I’m going to go to sleep tonight because my brain was all over the place with what he was doing out here. That’s why he’s had such a successful career, that’s why he’s loved by all the fans, and that’s why I think all the players love to watch him play as well — just not to play against him!

“There were moments when I was frustrated, but there were also times where I reminded myself that that’s why I put in the hard work to play on courts like this… with players like Gael who get the best out of me.”

Fonseca frenzy awaits

There will be no reprieve for Draper in the next round — on the court, or in the stands. Awaiting him is another of 2025’s breakthrough players in Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, who will come with his own set of fervent supporters in full voice.

In his Roland-Garros debut, Fonseca has yet to drop a set, and followed an upset of No.30 seed (and recent Geneva finalist) Hubert Hurkacz with a straight-sets win over France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Thursday.

But Draper defeated the teenager on the way to his own breakthrough victory at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in March.