French Open: Draper beats Monfils in thriller, Djokovic and Sinner win - as it happened

2h ago 17.51 EDT “First off I have to acknowledge Gael,” a very sweaty Draper says. “What a battle. What an experience. The guy’s incredible. I hope he’s able to play here one more time in the future.” Draper’s asked if it’s the toughest match he’s ever played. He doesn’t really answer directly – but says: “I’ve had some tough ones. This is why I play tennis, to play in front of crowds whether they’re with me or against me. My brain was fried because of what Gael was doing out there. I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep tonight.” Share

2h ago 17.47 EDT Next up for Draper: another potential blockbuster against the Brazilian wonderkid Joao Fonseca. Next up for Monfils: probably a very long ice bath. Share

2h ago 17.46 EDT Felt like a 5th set would be cruel and unusual punishment for the 38-year-old bone-tired Monfils at this stage, and for a change he did not get one

Jack Draper rallies from 2-5 and two set points down to close it out in R2 of #RolandGarros 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-5. Draper to face someone… pic.twitter.com/JTIkJnhh3f — Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) May 29, 2025 Share

2h ago 17.46 EDT Draper defeats Monfils 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 The crowd save perhaps their biggest cheer for last, as they try to rouse their man into making another comeback. Monfils is barely moving between points, but has enough left to dart a backhand winner down the line for 15-all. A big hit from Draper and it’s 30-15. Make that 40-15, two match points. And at nearly a quarter to midnight in Paris, Draper seals his progression with a cross-court smash! The pair share a long embrace at the net. What a test of mettle that was for Draper on his Chatrier debut, and yet more proof of his growing maturity. And if that turns out to be Monfils’s final match at the French Open, what a cracker it was. Monfils departs to a standing ovation. View image in fullscreen Jack Draper celebrates match point against Gael Monfils. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Share Updated at 17.56 EDT

2h ago 17.41 EDT Monfils looks spent at 0-30. But we’ve seen this before. A bit of rope-a-dope? Possibly – but Monfils doesn’t really need to launch a counterattack, because Draper knocks himself out with two errors. 30-all. Monfils is hitting with more zip than a couple of points ago – but Draper soaks it up before volleying a winner. 30-40, break point, which would leave Draper serving for the match. Draper doesn’t make it. And then hits out! Advantage Monfils. A lung-busting rally ends in Draper’s favour. Deuce. Advantage Draper. Game Draper, with a forehand deep into the corner that Monfils can’t return! Draper – after three hours of what for me is the match of the tournament – will serve for a place in the third round! Share

2h ago 17.33 EDT Draper improvises with his back to the net but Monfils wins the point. 15-30. 15-40, two set points to Monfils, when Draper nets! Now Draper is doubled over, gasping for air, a la Monfils. Draper dismisses the first set point. Drenched in sweat and stained by the clay, Draper saves the second with some gutsy, gutsy play. Deuce. Advantage Draper. Game Draper, with a swinging ace out wide. How crucial that hold may prove to be. They’re locked at 5-5. Share

2h ago 17.28 EDT Monfils scorches the sideline for 30-0. And then whacks into the net. And into the tramlines. 30-all. A couple of tired shots, as he leans on the advertising boards between points. Another netted shot from Monfils and here’s Draper’s 11th break point of the set. And finally Draper gets the breakthrough as Monfils balloons long! This utterly absorbing set is back on serve and it’s Draper 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 4-5 Monfils. Share

2h ago 17.23 EDT Tim Henman says this is a great experience in Draper’s education, battling not only an inspired opponent but a 15,000-strong crowd. And he’s backing Draper to come through even if this does go to five. Draper holds to love. His mum is clapping but she’s in the minority. The rest are cheering for Monfils as he steps up to serve at 5-3 and take this match to a deciding set … View image in fullscreen Gael Monfils returns the ball against Jack Draper . Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP Share Updated at 17.46 EDT

2h ago 17.19 EDT But here’s a double fault. Draper’s advantage … and Monfils absolutely rips an inside-in forehand winner! Svitolina is still watching, despite her match tomorrow, which will soon be today. Monfils creates a few game points of his own, but can’t take them. And Draper produces a fine forehand cross-court pass! Break point No 4. And Monfils’s effort clips the tape not once but twice … and eventually trickles over! What fortune. But soon it’s break point No 5. Again Monfils saves it. He looks as if he can take no more. But somehow Monfils holds for 5-2! View image in fullscreen The crowd cheers Gael Monfils. Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP Share Updated at 18.18 EDT

2h ago 17.15 EDT Credit to Draper, though, he’s not visibly showing much frustration. He still looks very focused as he moves to 0-30 on Monfils’s serve – and then 15-40. Two break-back points. Monfils swats down a 130mph ace on the first, and another strong serve sets up the next point too. Deuce. Share

3h ago 17.07 EDT At 15-all on Draper’s serve, Monfils runs at the speed of light to get to a drop shot – back in the day he was able to run the 100m in 10.98 seconds – but Draper sprints forward too and hits into the empty court. 30-15 becomes 30-all, and 40-30 turns into deuce. And Monfils has a break point, his first since early in the third set! And Draper doubles! Perhaps the one-sided support is starting to get to him. Chatrier erupts and Draper will be kicking himself. Monfils breaks for 4-2. Share

3h ago 16.59 EDT A serve half-volley move from Monfils and it’s 15-0. But he’s puffing his cheeks out when he doubles for 15-30. Monfils smartly goes back behind Draper, drawing the error. 30-all. 40-30. A second double in the game and it’s deuce. It’s nearly 11pm in Paris – and that’s after Monfils’s first-round tussle lasted until beyond midnight. Draper has a break point, his fifth of the set, but this one comes and goes too. And the crowd are on their feet when Monfils holds for 3-2. View image in fullscreen Gael Monfils tips the ball over the net during a second-round match against Jack Draper. Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP Share Updated at 17.21 EDT

3h ago 16.53 EDT Another Draper drop, a lovely angled effort, and it’s 40-0. Draper’s hit 10 drop-shot winners to Monfils’s zero in this match. And the Brit holds to love. Share

3h ago 16.51 EDT Despite the tension, Monfils is still able to joke around between points at 30-0. He briefly loses focus for 30-15, but moves to 40-15 and slams down an unreturned serve for the game. He’ll gratefully take that easy hold. It’s now Draper 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 1-2 Monfils. Share

3h ago 16.47 EDT After that 11-minute game, Draper is in no mood to hang around. A forehand volley gets him to 30-15. Another perfect drop shot – he’s hit many of those this evening – and it’s 40-15. An errant forehand from Monfils and it’s game. Draper gets the chance to go right back at his opponent and pile the pressure on Monfils’s serve once more … Share

3h ago 16.43 EDT A rally of the highest quality, both jumping into their shots, hitting with depth and force, and Monfils is gasping for air when Draper emerges victorious. A fourth break point. And Monfils saves this one too! He’s bent over again between points. And somehow summons the energy to win the next two points for a huge hold! It’s Draper 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 0-1 Monfils. Share

3h ago 16.39 EDT … advantage Draper, a second break point. Draper has Monfils scurrying from one side of the baseline to t’other – the Frenchman would happily do that all day, Draper would be better off dragging him forward. But Draper doesn’t, and Monfils gets back to deuce. Draper produces once of his best shots of the match – a forehand pass when off-balance – and here’s a third break point. Monfils cancels it out with a 125mph ace! Share

3h ago 16.39 EDT Monfils is most likely playing his final Roland Garros, but I probably wrote that last year too. When he’s this fun to watch, why quit? But there’s nothing entertaining for him about the double fault he produces at 30-all, leaving Draper with an immediate chance to break at the start of the fourth. Monfils balances that out with a crowd-pleasing point. Deuce … Share

3h ago 16.29 EDT Monfils has Svitolina and his box laughing at something he says – all I heard was “délicieux” – which doesn’t really make sense given Draper is 30-0 ahead. Maybe he was admiring Draper’s shot. But Monfils’s forehand is délicieux as it forces the error from Draper for 30-all. Draper steadies himself for 40-30. And wraps up the set with another drop shot that Monfils doesn’t even try to chase down. Draper restores his one-set advantage, leading 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Share Updated at 16.31 EDT

3h ago 16.25 EDT Monfils, serving to stay in the third set, offers some French resistance. But at 30-15, he barely moves to Draper’s drop shot. 30-all. Monfils has the assurance to put away the smash for 40-30, but hits well into the tramlines for deuce. Monfils looks equally incredulous and amused. You could make a whole highlights reel just of his facial expressions. Monfils holds from deuce and Draper must serve the set out at 6-3, 4-6, 5-3. Share

3h ago 16.19 EDT Another awful game from Monfils and it’s 40-0 Draper. The court is shrinking for the Frenchman. And a serve-volley from Draper makes it 5-2. The partisan Parisian crowd is silenced. Share

3h ago 16.17 EDT But Monfils sees Draper’s three unforced errors from the previous game and raises it with four of his own, meekly surrendering the break to love. Draper’s coach James Trotman seems to be the only person in the crowd applauding. The British No 1 has the break again for 4-2. Share

3h ago 16.15 EDT Draper makes two mistakes on serve – both of which are roundly cheered – and it’s 30-40, break-back point for Monfils. Draper’s lefty serve swings out wide to Monfils’s backhand … and here’s another forehand error from Draper! Monfils breaks back! The camera pans to Monfils’s wife Elina Svitolina, who’s still in the tournament herself, and is due to play tomorrow. Not exactly the ideal match preparation for her, being put through a late night emotional wringer. It’s Draper 6-3, 4-6, 3-2 Monfils. Share

4h ago 16.09 EDT Monfils came from two sets to love down in the first round, so he has the heart to mount a comeback, but does he have the legs? Ever the showman, he’s grinning at himself when his drop shot, combined with an improvised backhand volley, gives him a hold to 15. Share

4h ago 16.06 EDT Monfils is in a similar position to Gasquet was against Sinner earlier – an ageing home favourite against a player near the top of his game – and the 38-year-old is feeling it right now. Somehow he hauls himself to 30-all on Draper’s serve, but Draper nudges ahead for 40-30, and the Parisians are clapping loudly as Draper serves at game point. If it’s an attempt to put him off it doesn’t work, because he secures the game when a net exchange of angles ends in the 5th seed’s favour. Draper consolidates the break for 3-0. View image in fullscreen Jack Draper flings a forehand to Gael Monfils. Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson/EPA Share Updated at 16.18 EDT

4h ago 16.01 EDT Monfils quickly finds himself in a hole at 0-15, 0-30, 0-40. An ace gets himself out of trouble on the first break point. But the Frenchman’s forehand whistles just wide on the second – cue almost silence from the Chatrier crowd. I don’t think there are too many Draper fans in the stadium tonight. But the Brit has the break, leading 6-3, 4-6, 2-0. Share

4h ago 15.56 EDT Tim Henman says between sets that he thinks it would be smart if Draper took 10% off his shots, didn’t take as many chances and made Monfils work harder for the points. Draper starts the third set off with a delicate touch, dispatching a winning drop shot. But he butchers a backhand, after the ball flies off the line and catches him off-guard. And a double fault gives Monfils deuce. The crowd are ooohing and aaahing as Monfils scampers from side to side; the running proves to be in vain. Advantage Draper. Jeu Draper for 6-3, 4-6, 1-0. Share

4h ago 15.51 EDT For all the criticism of the French Open having scheduled only men’s matches in the evening slot this year (and last year too), and it’s very, very valid, I doubt any of the crowd are complaining right now. They’re screaming when Monfils takes the first point for 15-0, and they’re encouraging their man just as loudly when he concedes the second point for 15-all. A classy volley from Monfils makes it 30-15. And a netted Draper return gives the Frenchman two set points. Draper hoiks a forehand into the tramlines and it’s game on! It’s Draper 6-3, 4-6 Monfils. Gael Monfils levels the match at one set all!

We are in for a treat 🍬#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/XJ02MzAmWF — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 29, 2025 Share Updated at 15.57 EDT

4h ago 15.46 EDT Thanks Taha. This is more like the Draper of the first set, and he continues in that vein by charging to 30-0 on serve. And then 40-15. He’s left scrambling in the red clay when his forehand misses by a mile, but takes the game to 30. Monfils will now get a second chance to serve this second set out at 5-4. Share

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