Draper takes Chatrier in an unforgettable night against Monfils
'La Monf' captivated Philippe Chatrier once again and managed to push one of the fittest tennis players on the circuit to the limit.
Night session, Gael Monfils, Philippe Chatrier, Jack Draper, Roland Garros... some might have expected the Frenchman to fall in straight sets against one of the fittest players on the tour, but what they didn't know is that 'La Monf' transforms when he's in a night session on the central court of his home Grand Slam. Draper achieved it, he managed to win, but the battle they gave us will be remembered.
Jack Draper ended up winning by 6-3 4-6 6-7 7-5 in a match that lasted just over three hours. Gael Monfils, completely lifted by the crowd at Roland Garros, reached extraordinary levels of tennis to push the top 5 of the ATP and one of the players considered contenders for great results in Paris to the limit. A match that had absolutely everything and left no one indifferent, the kind that fans love about tennis.
- Draper, at a high level
Draper's level was very high throughout the match, remaining true to his style of seeking many winners in any situation. He started with a 6-3 lead and it seemed like the battle might not have much of a story to tell, but that's when Monfils' aura began to shine and he activated his best version to retrieve every ball no matter the difficulty. They produced 'highlights' points, but what surprised the most was Monfils' ability to give his all until the last point, even when he was practically struggling on the court.
- Monfils, reborn
At many moments during the third and fourth set, it seemed like the Frenchman had nothing left and that he was going to lower his level at any moment. However, he fought and found the magic he was looking for to battle through a fourth set that became an emotional rollercoaster. The crowd was thrilled by what they were witnessing and the 'show' they were enjoying on court. Monfils pulled off an epic comeback leading 5-2, and that's when the cramps appeared.
He came close to forcing a fifth set which surely would have been another thrilling spectacle to watch, both due to the atmosphere and the level of both players, but Draper stepped up and pushed his rival to take five consecutive games and close the match with a 7-5 where he saved two set points. We can only thank both players, one at 23 and the other at 38 who hopefully won't retire for a long time, for giving us one of the best matches of this Roland Garros 2025.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Draper "toma" la Chatrier en una noche inolvidable ante Monfils