Jack Draper outfoxes Gaël Monfils, books Joao Fonseca Roland Garros third round

Jack Draper pulled off a clutch victory over Gaël Monfils at 2025 Roland Garros on Thursday, the No. 5 seed fending off the fan favorite, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Draper has been one of the biggest stories of 2025, and followed up his first-ever win on the terre battue by going toe-to-toe with an inspired Monfils on his favorite court, booking a blockbuster third round clash with Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca after advancing after three hours and 11 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Draper arrived in Paris as one of the in-form players of the season, having broken through to capture his first Masters 1000 title at the BNP Paribas Open and reached another Masters final earlier this month at the Mutua Madrid Open. Up to a career-high ranking of No. 5, the Brit rebounded from a quarterfinal defeat to Carlos Alcaraz at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to make a strong start on the terre battue, rallying from a set down to solve Italian Mattia Bellucci in the first round.

Across the net was the pride of Paris in Monfils, the 38-year-old fan favorite making his 18th main-draw appearance at Roland Garros. Since making his debut as a teenager in 2005, Monfils has reached three quarterfinals and one semifinal at his home tournament and though he hasn’t made it back to the second week since 2022, the former world No. 6 has rebounded in form this season, winning his 13th career ATP title in Auckland and reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open.

He roared back from two sets down to defeat Hugo Dellian in the first round and faced an uphill battle against Draper, who won their only previous meeting at Canada’s National Bank Open in 2023. As expected, Draper eased through the opening set but Monfils put on a show for the Chatrier crowd, leveling the match at one set apiece.

Draper took the third set but Monfils made his push for a decider when he scored the first break of the fourth set. With wife and fellow tennis star Elina Svitolina looking on, the French star brought the crowd to its feet when he navigated a titanic seventh game on serve, saving five break points to secure a 5-2 lead.

Poised to force a fifth set, Monfils couldn’t serve it out after squandering a 30-0 lead, but bounced right back to earn a pair of set points on Draper’s serve. A visibly winded Draper found another gear when he saved one with a strong serve and a second with a fearless approach to net, ultimately evening the set at five games apiece.

Monfils saved a break point on his own serve but looked increasingly fatigued and uncomfortable as the Brit engineered a second and converted to give himself the chance to serve for the match.

Draper closed out the win and met Monfils at the net for a warm embrace after an exciting evening contest, but the job is far from over for the fifth seed with an in-form Fonseca standing between him and the second week.

At 18 years old, Fonseca has enjoyed a breakthrough season of his own, defeating Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open and making the third round of the Miami Open. He is yet to drop a set in Paris after stunning Geneva finalist Hubert Hurkacz in the first round. Draper won their only previous meeting en route to winning the BP Paribas Open earlier this year.