French Open: Jack Draper beats Gael Monfils to reach third round at Roland-Garros with Cam Norrie and Jacob Fearnley also through

[ad_1] Jack Draper held off residence 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 enchanting 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 indicate 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 move him by at 5-4.

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"I've to acknowledge Gael, sure that is my first time on this court docket and what a battle, what an expertise towards someone I like as a tennis participant, but in addition a man who off the court docket is extremely good, such a joker, a magician," stated Draper on TNT Sports activities.

"He does every thing, truthfully large respect to him and I hope he is ready to play right here another time once more sooner or later."

Draper had seemed in command on his option to a snug opening set earlier than a spirited Monfils absorbed the vitality of an increasingly-loud French crowd on his option to taking the second.

Draper was nonetheless taking part in 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 gap, the 38-year-old benefiting from a theatrical, virtually slow-motion, double-bounce off the online on his option to a 5-3 lead.

<img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/768x432/skysports-jack-draper-gael-monfils_6930825.jpg?20250529224854" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/384x216/skysports-jack-draper-gael-monfils_6930825.jpg?20250529224854 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/768x432/skysports-jack-draper-gael-monfils_6930825.jpg?20250529224854 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/1600x900/skysports-jack-draper-gael-monfils_6930825.jpg?20250529224854 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/2048x1152/skysports-jack-draper-gael-monfils_6930825.jpg?20250529224854 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Winner Britain's Jack Draper (R) huddles France's Gael Monfils at the end their men's singles match on day 5 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 29, 2025. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP)"/> Picture: Draper embraces Monfils after the match However the veteran had lengthy been tiring, and Draper's vitality would pull him by way of as he sensed his opponent slowing whereas reeling off 4 consecutive video games on his remaining march to victory.

"My mind was fried on the market," added Draper. "I am unsure if I'm going to fall asleep as a result of my mind is simply far and wide with what he was doing out right here.

"There have been instances the place I used to be very annoyed however I reminded myself that for this reason I put within the arduous work to play on courts like this. It's one thing I loved whereas I used to be taking part in - regardless that it did not appear to be 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.

<img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/768x432/skysports-gael-monfils-french-open_6930833.jpg?20250529225858" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/384x216/skysports-gael-monfils-french-open_6930833.jpg?20250529225858 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/768x432/skysports-gael-monfils-french-open_6930833.jpg?20250529225858 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/1600x900/skysports-gael-monfils-french-open_6930833.jpg?20250529225858 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/05/2048x1152/skysports-gael-monfils-french-open_6930833.jpg?20250529225858 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="France's Gael Monfils reacts during his men's singles match against Britain's Jack Draper on day 5 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 29, 2025. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP)"/> Picture: Monfils drained in the direction of the tip of the match Norrie had earlier crushed 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 a fantastic serving day towards somebody like that, you are at all times below strain," stated Boulter.

"I feel virtually each service recreation I hit a double-fault. In opposition to somebody of that calibre, you simply cannot afford to try this."

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