Latest news with #GaelMonfils
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jack Draper sweeps aside teenager Joao Fonseca to reach French Open fourth round
Jack Draper extended his stay in Paris into the second week after sweeping aside Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca to reach the fourth round of the French Open. The British number one out-thought and outmuscled his 18-year-old opponent, thudding 32 winners in a commanding 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory in just an hour and 46 minutes. Advertisement 'I played good, the first set was really key,' he said. 'I got on top of him and used my forehand really well. 'Mentally it was a good performance from me today. I'm happy to be in the second week here and hopefully there's more to come.' Fonseca is a precocious talent who brings a huge, noisy contingent of supporters from his homeland wherever he goes. There were fans in the famous yellow football shirts dotted all around Court Suzanne-Lenglen and they were making themselves heard throughout the early stages. But Draper, who dealt with a partisan crowd when he beat 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils on Thursday night, dampened the South American enthusiasm as he raced away with the first set in just half-an-hour. Advertisement Draper dominated the second, although he did have to save a break point with an ace as he served for it, before a Fonseca error sealed the deal. A relentless Draper kept the pressure on in the third, breaking in the first game after a punishing rally to take a decisive lead. The fifth seed's victory was sealed when a demoralised Fonseca could only plant a return apologetically into the net. 'My first two rounds, I played at night,' added Draper. 'Playing against Gael the other night, I didn't think I could hit the ball past him. 'It was so cold and I couldn't really do much but today the ball was getting up more and the faster conditions definitely suit me. Either way, I will be ready for my next round. Advertisement 'Joao has caught the attention of everyone on tour, the players and the fans. Today my experience came through. 'I don't think he has played as many grand slams as I have but he has got an unbelievably bright future so all the best to him.'
New York Times
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Run ends for Montgomery
Recap all the action from Roland Garros as the second round concluded with Jack Draper defeating Gaël Monfils in a classic four-set battle in Paris Getty Images Jack Draper (5) came out on top against popular French veteran Gaël Monfils in a wonderfully entertaining encounter to conclude the second round on Day 5 of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on Thursday. Draper dug deep to overcome crowd-pleasing, mercurial 38-year-old showman Monfils 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in front of a vibrant crowd of around 15,000 on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris. U.S. stars Coco Gauff (2), Jessica Pegula (3), Madison Keys (7) won; Jannik Sinner (1), Novak Djokovic (6), Alex Zverev (3) progressed too. Watch: TNT, truTV (U.S.); TNT (UK); Contact: live@ GO FURTHER French Open recap: Chaos, comebacks, crowds and curious scheduling at Roland Garros Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Getty Images FINAL: Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 Montgomery One loose end to tie up from a little earlier was Hailey Baptiste's next opponent, after the American made the third round. Sadly for American fans, it won't be an all-U.S. affair after Robin Montgomery was beaten in her decider against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. So it's the Spaniard next for Baptiste. Tereza Valentová hasn't looked overawed by the occasion, the court, or the prospect of facing Coco Gauff. She went down an early break which could easily have turned into a doom spiral, but found her confidence and even broke the world No. 2 — exerting pressure on a Gauff forehand that started the set a little shaky. But as things have gone on, the persistent heaviness of Gauff's strike — something that the Czech 18-year-old will never have experienced in her career to date — has worn her down, forcing her to overpress from positions she is used to being in control. Some predictions are not destined to come true. Getty Images Valentová 2-6, 0-0* Gauff Meanwhile on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Coco Gauff is has everything to lose against Tereza Valentová — an 18-year-old qualifier making her Grand Slam debut. However, she is also a junior winner at Roland Garros and a highly regarded young talent. All of which makes her a dangerous opponent for the No.2 seed. Which is why Gauff taking the first set in strong fashion will be hugely encouraging. More of the same please, Coco. Getty Images What an awesome presentation to Richard Gasquet, which appears to be a cross-section of what makes up these Roland Garros clay courts. There are tears in his box, a montage of his career, and almost certainly some emotional words to follow on Court Philippe-Chatrier. And once all this is done, No. 7 seed and Australian Open champion Madison Keys will face Britain's Katie Boulter. Getty Images Here come the Richard Gasquet farewell ceremonies. Jannik Sinner gets the mic first given he won, and the Italian says thank you to the Chatrier crowd 'for being fair.' It is then pointed out to Sinner that he was one year old when Gasquet won his first tour match. I'm pretty sure Gasquet grimaced at that fact. I wouldn't say Sinner is the best talker in the world, but he tries his best to pay tribute — and his warm words do take the Frenchman a step closer to tears, which as always is one of the goals with these things. Getty Images FINAL: Sinner 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 Gasquet There it is. The end of an era, as Richard Gasquet loses in straight sets against No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner and says goodbye to professional tennis. And so begins the emotional farewell from Court Philippe-Chatrier. Getty Images FINAL: Kudermetova 6-0, 6-3 Krejčíková The current Wimbledon champion is out of the French Open. Barbora Krejčíková also won this Grand Slam in 2021 but it's a second-round exit this year, as Veronika Kudermetova beat the No. 15 seed on Court 14 in straight sets. FINAL: Zverev 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 De Jong There was a bump in the road to begin with but after that, Alexander Zverev proved far too strong for Jesper de Jong. An Italian now awaits Zverev in the third round — it's just a case of whether it is Flavio Cobolli or Matteo Arnaldi. The pair are in action right now on Court 6, with Cobolli having taken the first set 6-3. To put things into context, Alex de Minaur lost in five sets earlier today against Alexander Bublik — in a match that took two hours 52 minutes. Arthur Fils' epic five-set win over Jaume Munar? That took FOUR hours 25 minutes. Epic indeed. Getty Images Whichever painkiller brand Arthur Fils' physio had in their bag should probably give him a call about a sponsorship deal. At the start of his third set against Jaime Munar on Suzanne-Lenglen, Fils was talking to his box with an air of resignation. His back looked done. He could barely move. That's bad at the best of times. Against Munar, a dogged retriever who has added more aggression and bite to his game the past few months, it looked terminal. Munar duly won the next two sets 6-2 and 6-0. Fils looked finished. Until he ran out for the fifth set with a sudden spurt of energy. Players sometimes get accused of 'rope-a-dope' in these kinds of scenarios, fooling their opponent into thinking they are unable to continue before suddenly coming back to win. But Fils' situation really did look like a case of medication kicking in, as worked for Novak Djokovic against Carlos Alcaraz in Australia. He still had to come from a break down. He still had to get over missing two almost perfectly identical overheads with the court gaping at 4-4 on his serve. He still had to win the final game. When he did, he consoled his opponent before ripping off his shirt and screaming into the crowd that had given him life. 'I thought about Gaël,' said Fils of Monfils, his country's ultimate tennis escape artist. Getty Images Sinner 6-3, 6-0, *1-2 Gasquet From a new French hero of Roland Garros to the goodbye to a legend. The clock continues to tick down on Richard Gasquet's French Open farewell and sadly the veteran lost his second set against No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner without registering a game. It is something he has put right in the third set, at least. But there may not be too much longer left of this one — or Gasquet's career. There is still a palpable hum of noise around Court Suzanne-Lenglen, unsurprisingly. Next up, it's Coco time. U.S. No. 2 seed Coco Gauff is taking on Czech Republic's Tereza Valentová next. Hopefully she has her rackets in her bag when she walks out on court this time. Getty Images FINAL: Fils 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 2-6, 0-6, 6-4 Munar Oh my, that is special. La Marseillaise did indeed help do the job. At one point, Jaume Munar is stood on his second serve, waiting to start the point as crowd noise flew around his ears. He was 0-30 at that point and clearly not happy. He won that point. But the rest of the game belonged to Arthur Fils — and a new French star is officially born. Fils says in his court interview that Gaël Monfils' comeback in the first round was in the back of his mind, as he lost 10 games in a row and started to stir at 2-2. The crowd loved that too. Absolute magic. And he will be one to watch in the third round too, when Fils will play either Australia's Adam Walton or No. 17 seed Andrey Rublev, who has taken the first set in a tiebreak on Court 7. Getty Images And to that point, in the gap between games Court Suzanne-Lenglen belts out an incredible, impassioned rendition of La Marseillaise. One of the most stunning things I've seen at any sports event so far this year. If that doesn't inspire you Arthur, nothing will. Munar 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-0, *4-5 Fils Four hours, 12 minutes and counting… What an epic we have playing out on Court Suzanne-Lenglen — and the home crowd is seriously engaged. From two sets up, French 14th seed Arthur Fils got stuck in a rut against Jaume Munar. Now eight games and currently on serve in the deciding set, Fils is going from the sublime and powerful, to erratic and ghastly. Captivating doesn't begin to describe it. Sensational might. Two visits to deuce and five break points saved, Fils FINALLY holds. The whole court is on its feet. What a match. What a moment. And we don't actually have a winner yet… Zverev 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, *1-0 De Jong Alexander Zverev is motoring now. The German third seed swats through the third set and then breaks Jesper de Jong in the opening game of the fourth. Zverev's first serve percentage sat at 86 in that last set; De Jong managed 44 percent. Court Simonne-Mathieu might not have these two on its clay for much longer. Sinner 6-3, 0-0* Gasquet Unsurprisingly, Court Philippe-Chatrier is packed for what may well prove to be Richard Gasquet's final hurrah — and boy, is the noise from this match reverberating around Roland Garros. Not that it's going Gasquet's way. The No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner has just taken the opening set, 6-3. It would be something of a tennis miracle if Gasquet continues his final French Open fling beyond this match — but that doesn't mean it's impossible… Getty Images Montgomery 4-6, 6-4, *0-0 And right on cue, Robin Montgomery pulls off a late break to nab the second set and take us into a decider with Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Court 12. Game on… Getty Images FINAL: Baptiste 6-3, 6-2 Hibino Let's give a little love to Hailey Baptiste, with the 23-year-old now into the third round of the French Open — and indeed any Grand Slam — for the first time. It was a comfortable straight-sets win against Japanese qualifier, Nao Hibino, in under 90 minutes. Waiting for Baptiste in the third round will be either another American player in Robin Montgomery or Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who won the first set. The second on Court 12 is still with serve in its latter stages.
The Independent
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Jack Draper sweeps aside teenager Joao Fonseca to reach French Open fourth round
Jack Draper extended his stay in Paris into the second week after sweeping aside Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca to reach the fourth round of the French Open. The British number one out-thought and outmuscled his 18-year-old opponent, thudding 32 winners in a commanding 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory in just an hour and 46 minutes. 'I played good, the first set was really key,' he said. 'I got on top of him and used my forehand really well. 'Mentally it was a good performance from me today. I'm happy to be in the second week here and hopefully there's more to come.' Fonseca is a precocious talent who brings a huge, noisy contingent of supporters from his homeland wherever he goes. There were fans in the famous yellow football shirts dotted all around Court Suzanne-Lenglen and they were making themselves heard throughout the early stages. But Draper, who dealt with a partisan crowd when he beat 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils on Thursday night, dampened the South American enthusiasm as he raced away with the first set in just half-an-hour. Draper dominated the second, although he did have to save a break point with an ace as he served for it, before a Fonseca error sealed the deal. A relentless Draper kept the pressure on in the third, breaking in the first game after a punishing rally to take a decisive lead. The fifth seed's victory was sealed when a demoralised Fonseca could only plant a return apologetically into the net. 'My first two rounds, I played at night,' added Draper. 'Playing against Gael the other night, I didn't think I could hit the ball past him. 'It was so cold and I couldn't really do much but today the ball was getting up more and the faster conditions definitely suit me. Either way, I will be ready for my next round. 'Joao has caught the attention of everyone on tour, the players and the fans. Today my experience came through. 'I don't think he has played as many grand slams as I have but he has got an unbelievably bright future so all the best to him.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jack Draper is 9/4 to win in straight sets against Brazilian teenage sensation Joao Fonseca - as the Brit aims to reach the last-16 of the French Open
Jack Draper secured his place in the third round of the French Open on Thursday - as the Brit defeated hometown hero Gael Monfils in four sets in the second round. Draper's third round match-up is scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon - as the fifth seed clashes with Brazil's Joao Fonseca. Fonseca, 18, upset 30th seed Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets in the first round, before getting the better of Pierre-Hugues Herbert inside three sets last time out. Despite his strong form - Fonseca enters today's match as a 13/8 outsider according to Sky Bet. Conversely, Draper is an odds-on favourite at 4/9 to be victorious and reach the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time in his career. In addition to the head-to-head odds - let's take a look at the Set Betting market for this contest. Draper is 9/4 to win in straight sets, 3/1 to win in four sets, and a wider 4/1 to get the job done in five sets. Meanwhile, Fonseca is 6/1 to win 3-0, 11/2 to win 3-1, and 6/1 to be victorious 3-2. Sky Bet odds for Joao Fonseca vs Jack Draper: Jack Draper 4/9 Joao Fonseca 13/8 Sky Bet odds in Set Betting market for Joao Fonseca vs Jack Draper: Jack Draper to win 3-0 - 9/4 Jack Draper to win 3-1 - 3/1 Jack Draper to win 3-2 - 4/1 Joao Fonseca to win 3-0 - 6/1 Joao Fonseca to win 3-1 - 11/2 Joao Fonseca to win 3-2 - 6/1
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Jack Draper braced for hot reception in French Open clash with Joao Fonseca
Jack Draper has already experienced the hysteria that follows his French Open third-round opponent Joao Fonseca around – and he was not even playing him at the time. British number one Draper was taking on Czech youngster Jakub Mensik at the Miami Open when the match was interrupted after hundreds of fans started booing. The noise was coming from a huge Brazilian contingent who had waited all day to watch teenage sensation Fonseca, only to realise his match had suddenly been moved to a different court. 'It was tough,' recalled Draper. 'There was a couple of games in the match where they were booing very loudly and we didn't know what was going on. 'The Miami Open got that one wrong. They'd been waiting all day, he was fourth on. 'I thought the crowd were there to watch me and when I rocked up to the court it was all 'Joao Fonseca', and I thought maybe they're not for me. It's incredible what he brings to the sport.' If the queues snaking around Roland Garros towards Court 14 when Fonseca was beating Pierre-Hugues Herbert are anything to go by, then Draper, who silenced a raucous Paris crowd on Thursday night when he beat local hero Gael Monfils, is in for another hot reception. Draper, who beat the 18-year-old at Indian Wells in their only previous meeting earlier this year, added: 'I enjoy it, I love it, I feed off it. It bodes well with my competitive nature. I'm looking forward to playing him, he's obviously a special player. 'I think I'm going to be playing him a lot. I think we'll be seeing him at the back end of draws and right at the top of the game. 'Everyone can see his potential and the way he plays, some of the stuff he comes out with is very powerful, very dynamic, very explosive and I think that's why it draws a lot of people to watch him. The huge fan base he brings from Brazil is great for the sport. 'I'll expect him to know my game now, he's played some really good stuff and kept rising up the rankings so it will be a tough challenge, especially in a grand slam on the clay. 'I'll know what to expect and not have any surprises but it will be a tough challenge for sure.'
