By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday Could 30, 2025
Paris – Gael Monfils discovered the arduous manner simply what number of enhancements Jack Draper has made to his recreation.
The 38-year-old Frenchman threw every little thing he had at Draper in an epic Paris night time session on Thursday, and will solely handle to take a set from the 23-year-old menace.
After the match, Monfils mentioned he has immense respect for Draper’s recreation.
“I like this participant,” Monfils mentioned. “I like the best way he performs, as a result of he performs a really quick backhand. When Jack was younger, he actually had the most effective backhand.
However he is progressed rather a lot on his forehand now. Now he actually produces pure energy together with his forehand, and he manages to essentially roll the ball alongside the road. He is a left-hander who goes very quick alongside the road. That is not widespread, and he strikes very well on the court docket.”
Monfils says that along with the forehand, Draper can also be returning higher.
“The place he is actually progressed is that he actually returns very well,” he mentioned. “He is removed from the baseline, and the ball’s all the time in on the proper velocity, the precise course, and he is made an amazing quantity of progress in that regard.
“So a Jack who’s feeling very self-confident like that may be very troublesome to maneuver.”
That is what our sport is all about.❤️#draper #monfils #rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/OcA0gp0EDb
— ATP Tour (@atptour) Could 29, 2025
In a bodily encounter on sluggish clay in night time circumstances, Draper stayed the course and dealt with Monfils and the rowdy Parisian crowd. It was extra proof that the fifth-ranked Brit is prepared for prime time.
“Each level was arduous,” Monfils mentioned. “No straightforward factors. He was actually returning the balls very effectively. He actually performed his recreation effectively. Actually, I could not do rather a lot. I performed my forehand down the road. It went out. And he performed effectively after that.”
Not the tip consequence Monfils needed, however anybody who watched the match is aware of that Monfils has nothing to hold his head about. To play like that at age 38? In opposition to a peaking energy 15 years his junior? Chapeau, Lamonf.
On TNT Chris Eubanks referred to as the second set among the best units of tennis he had ever seen.
“An awesome night time. An awesome match,” Monfils mentioned. “Above all, I used to be pleased, due to course he is feeling very self-confident, however I did handle to, , tease him slightly bit.”
