Latest news with #GaëlMonfils
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Jack Draper stunned by Alexander Bublik in four-set defeat at French Open
With his presence at the French Open hanging desperately in the balance, Jack Draper stepped up to the baseline down two sets to one hoping that he would begin the new set with a fresh, clean slate to plot his recovery. Instead, he could only watch on helplessly as his opponent threaded four outlandish winners to break his serve to love. It was that kind of evening for Draper, the fifth seed in Paris, who was outplayed by a stunning performance from the unseeded Alexander Bublik. The Kazakhstani, 26, held his nerve in front of a raucous Court Suzanne Lenglen crowd to close out an immense 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win and reach the quarter-finals of the French Open for the first time in his career. After working through his early tension last week to achieve his first win in Paris before putting away an inspired Gaël Monfils in frigid, heavy conditions, Draper entered the fourth round with expectations high after he completely dismantled the 18-year-old João Fonseca on Saturday. Instead of a tough, attritional battle with Alex de Minaur, the highest-ranked seed in his section, Draper found himself against the enigmatic Bublik, who dramatically toppled De Minaur from two sets down in the second round. Bublik has been as high as No 17 in the rankings and on a good day he is an incredibly dangerous and unpredictable player. Today was the best day of his career. From the very beginning, Bublik showed just how dangerous and unpredictable he can be as he rolled through his early service games with a mixture of destructive, pinpoint serving, sweet two-handed backhands and a constant stream of drop shots. The first set, however, progressed just how many thought it would. In the tight moments, Draper's superior return of serve, movement and point-by-point focus separated him in a battle between two big servers as he emerged with the set. The start of the second set was similarly unsurprising as Bublik, still reeling from the abrupt end to the first set, handed over a service game with a series of ill-advised drop shots. Just as it seemed like Draper had the match under control, however, it all fell apart. Bublik immediately forced himself back into the match with a spectacular exhibition of varied attacking tennis. He served brilliantly, keeping Draper out of his service games, pounding his excellent two-handed backhand and he continued to suffocate the left-hander with sickly sweet drop shots from all parts of the court. Against an opponent who seemed to be able to do anything he could possibly want with the ball, Draper just couldn't keep up. As his first serve crumbled, he lost confidence in his forehand and retreated into his shell. Most notably of all, for some time he seemed too stressed out to think clearly. From a set and a break down, Bublik rolled through 12 of the next 16 games to establish a two sets to one lead. Before the fourth set began, both players took a bathroom break. Draper emerged from the short intermission hoping to find his rhythm and force himself back into the match, but Bublik had other ideas. He immediately broke Draper's serve to love with an unforgettable return game, closing it off with an effortless forehand return winner off Draper's first serve. With the break in hand, Bublik served spectacularly while continuing to dominate from the baseline and weave his web of maddening drop shots. After a breathless, theatrical final game as Draper fought admirably until the end and generated five break points, Bublik found the courage to close out the best win of his career. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Considering the momentum and positivity surrounding Draper during this tournament, this will be an incredible tough loss for him to digest. He sees himself competing for these titles, not merely reaching the second week. However, after starting this season simply seeking his first breakthrough on red clay, he ends this period having won many matches, beaten quality players and established himself as a real threat. This loss will simply form another part of his development.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jack Draper beats João Fonseca in straight sets to reach French Open fourth round
A few days on from his unforgettable late-night escape against the oldest player inside the men's top 100, Jack Draper found himself up against the youngest of them all. From the unparalleled defensive capabilities of the 38-year-old Gaël Monfils, Draper examined the 18-year-old João Fonseca's nuclear forehand. No matter the challenge or conditions, Draper continues to show his ability to adapt to all obstacles in his path. He eased into the fourth round of the French Open for the first time in his career with an utterly devastating performance, by far his best of the tournament so far, dismantling Fonseca 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to advance. Advertisement Related: French Open live: Draper and Sinner storm through, Gauff in action on day seven Since he marked his grand slam career with a stellar top 10 victory over Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open in January, the hype surrounding Fonseca has been overwhelming. Along with the massive expectations surrounding his talent, the Brazilian's emergence has reawakened one of the most passionate tennis fanbases in the world. At Roland Garros, where the legendary Gustavo Kuerten triumphed three times, the Brazilian fans were always going to be at their loudest. Back in March, Draper, the fifth seed in Paris, navigated two memorable events involving Fonseca. He played Fonseca for the first time in their second round match at Indian Wells, winning comfortably. A few weeks later at the Miami Open, the 23-year-old indirectly felt the force of the Brazilian's fanbase. Fonseca had initially been scheduled after Draper, but during the Briton's match it was abruptly moved to a bigger court. As thousands of booing fans angrily departed the court, Draper's match was briefly suspended: 'I thought the crowd was there to watch me but then when I rocked up on the court they went: 'João Fonseca,' I thought maybe they're not for me after all,' said Draper. Advertisement The hype surrounding Fonseca is a little too much, particularly since most young players benefit from developing without so much immediate pressure, but it exists for good reason. He is a precocious, exciting player already blessed with one of the most potent forehands in the game, which he pairs with a solid serve, improving athleticism and daredevil shotmaking. It is solely a reflection of Draper's complete game and relentless focus that Fonseca looked so pedestrian in this match. Fully conscious of the danger presented by a fearless youngster, Draper was sharp from the beginning. He opened up by returning consistently and with excellent depth, defending brilliantly as he repeatedly soaked up Fonseca's first strike. He set the tone with an early comfortable break in Fonseca's second service game. In the aftermath of his victory on Thursday night in painfully slow night conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Draper noted that the balls were so heavy it felt like he was playing with depressurised orange balls for children. He was uncomfortable until the end. Despite the humidity, the warmer daytime conditions provided a far more optimal platform for him to show just how effective his game can be on these courts. As he rolled through the first set, Draper's forehand was devastating. His brutal weight of shot – the combined force of his extreme topspin and immense ball speed – and unrelenting depth completely smothered the Brazilian, making Fonseca's ball look lightweight by comparison. Draper only continued to grow in confidence behind his forehand and by the second set he was striking it with total freedom and changing directions down the line at will. Under constant pressure from Draper's forehand and unable to break through the Briton's defence, Fonseca's forehand error count piled up as he aimed closer and closer to the lines. This was a spectacular, complete performance from an increasingly complete player: Draper also served brilliantly, maintaining his pressure on Fonseca's service games by rolling through his own, and he returned with immaculate consistency and depth. As he continued to push Fonseca far behind the baseline with the force of his forehand, he peppered his opponent with a stream of well-timed drop shots. Having arrived in Paris still seeking his first victory at Roland Garros, Draper heads into the second week looking stronger than he has ever been.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Jack Draper overcomes raucous French Open crowd to beat home hero Monfils
As 15,000 tennis fans cheered on his demise in the late hours of Thursday night, for a sustained period of time Jack Draper looked completely frazzled. He found himself playing a few too many drop shots, bailing out points instead of slamming the door shut. His first serve had vacated the premises. These things often happen in Gaël Monfils' lair, Court Philippe-Chatrier, where the effect of his magnetic personality draws his home crowd into a frenzy and his singular playing style plays tricks with any opponent's mind. Despite being pushed to his limits and standing on the verge of an uncertain fifth set, Draper gave another demonstration of his mental durability by somehow finding his way through to the third round of the French Open with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Monfils. 'No offence taken,' Draper told the crowd afterwards. 'This is why I play tennis, to play in front of big crowds, to play in front of crowds, whether they are with me or against me. That's the entertainment of tennis, so this is why I play. 'My brain was fried out here. I'm not sure if I'm gonna go to sleep tonight, my brain is just all over the place with what he's doing out there. That's why he's had such a successful career. That's why he is loved by all the fans. I think the players love to watch him play as well, but not to play against him.' This story will be updated
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
French Open recap: Gael Monfils performs a resurrection after Coco Gauff's rackets disappear
Follow The Athletic's French Open coverage Welcome to the French Open briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories on each day of the tournament. On day three, Gaël Monfils performed another resurrection Philippe-Chatrier, Novak Djokovic got into a tussle over the roof, Coco Gauff forgot her rackets and Daniil Medvedev had a mid-match string crisis. When Gaël Monfils crashed into the advertising screens five points into his match against Hugo Dellien of Bolivia, it looked like the Philippe-Chatrier faithful wouldn't even get a night session, let alone another audience with their hero, the beating heart of French men's tennis and its greatest conjurer. Advertisement When Monfils was two sets down, it looked like they would be going home early. But Monfils, 38 and in one of the great runs of form of his life, is more than au fait with a late night at Roland Garros. In 2023, he found himself 0-4 down in the fifth set against Sebastian Báez of Argentina, with cramps so intense that he hobbled around the terre battue like a zealot in search of a congregation. His people rose to him then. The groundstrokes flowed like they have done for so many years. Monfils, staggering from point to point and winner to winner, won the deciding set 7-5. This time, he needed his congregation for two whole sets and then some. But when he leveled the match to roars that echoed around Boulogne-Billancourt, it was no surprise. The stadium was full, bar a few empty seats from people whose work commitments meant that this match went too late. Outside, fans without night session tickets sat on deckchairs, roaring on a smaller version of their hero on a massive screen. Monfils led the final set 3-0 and looked to be cruising, before Dellien put up some staunch resistance on his service game. Monfils earned break point time and again, but was dragged back to deuce time and again, leaning on his racket and looking like he was ready to expire. Had Dellien held, a two-game deficit would have felt dangerous. The crowd were not to be denied. Dellien, under even more pressure than Monfils, hoiked a forehand wide for 4-0. Things were easier after that. Coco Gauff said she has never felt more relaxed before a Grand Slam first round-match than she did Wednesday morning at Roland Garros. Gauff was so chill that she forgot to bring an essential piece of equipment to the court: her rackets. As had happened to compatriot Frances Tiafoe, Gauff went to her bag to to grab a racket for the coin toss and … nothing. Advertisement What ensued was an awkward few minutes. Gauff looked to her box to tell them what was missing, then held up her bag and opened it wide, in case they didn't get the point from the fact that she had nothing to play tennis with. A ball kid was then sent on a very important mission to the locker room, in search of the Yonex sticks belonging to the world No. 2. Gauff said with everything else that goes into her bag, including shoes and fluids and snacks, it felt substantial enough that missing half a dozen rackets was not completely ridiculous. She also said that the oversight was so absurd that it may have worked in her favor, ahead of her 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Olivia Gadecki of Australia. 'It probably relaxed me going into the match, because it was just such a funny thing,'she said in her post-match news conference. She'd been focused on the conditions ahead of the match. It was cool and blustery, which she said took the pressure off because it made playing perfect tennis impossible. Later, she posted a picture of her French Open to-do list on X. Next up for Gauff is the raw but very talented 18-year-old Czech, Tereza Valentová. She's definitely going to need her rackets for that one. oops, forgot the last one — Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) May 27, 2025 Matt Futterman It's rare for a tennis match to be described as a stop-start affair, but the first set of Novak Djokovic's match against Mackenzie McDonald was painfully stilted. The weather was at fault, with intermittent rain leading both players to interrupt play to ask umpire Damien Dumusois why the roof wasn't being closed. The French Open organizers like the event to be an outdoor tournament as much as possible. They often waits until a point of no return to close the roofs on Courts Philippe-Chatrier and Suzanne-Lenglen, in a bid to avoid play continuing on the outside courts while the main courts turn into an indoor affair. Advertisement As early as the sixth game, the rain was falling heavily enough for the players to ask if the roof was going to be closed. High winds were also making conditions difficult, and this dance carried on until Djokovic came out to serve for the first set up 5-3. The roof began to close, and Djokovic duly served out the set while it inched shut overhead. Djokovic, who received a time violation for one of his protestations, said: 'I was just asking if and when they are going to make a decision to close the roof and how long we will have to play' in a news conference. 'That was my first question, how long we are going to play under that rain, because it was quite pouring with rain out there on the court. It was affecting the court, as well. The court became quite damp, a lot of bad bounces. 'The first information I got from the chair umpire was that they decided to wait. And so I asked, 'Who is 'they' and where are 'they'?' He said that it's supervisors and others that are deciding to leave it open.' Djokovic said he asked for the supervisors and officials that make up the 'they' to come outside, because conditions can look better they are from inside. He added that he asked Dumusois why a court with a roof should not use it just because other courts are continuing to play. This is at the center of the to close the roof or not to close the roof question, as it can create a disparity in conditions. The French Tennis Federation did not respond to a request for comment on their decision process, but with more rain expected, this debate is unlikely to go away. Charlie Eccleshare A struggling Daniil Medvedev went to extreme lengths to try and keep his Roland Garros hopes alive Tuesday, and it very nearly worked. Trailing by two sets to Cameron Norrie, Medvedev changed his strings mid-match. He recovered to win the next two sets and even served for the match in the fifth, but he ultimately lost by a 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 scoreline. Advertisement It continues a miserable year for Medvedev, who also lost in the first round of the Australian Open to a dogged but relatively underpowered leftie: the young American Learner Tien. Medvedev has spoken before about his struggles to hit winners with some of the balls used on the ATP Tour, and he has tweaked his strings and string tension previously in recent years having never even considered it before 2023. Earlier this year in Doha, Qatar, he changed his strings mid-match against compatriot Karen Khachanov and it worked, helping him to turn around a one-set deficit into a three-set win. On this occasion, Christopher Eubanks, the world No. 105 who is covering this year's French Open for TNT Sports, spotted that Medvedev had switched from a natural gut hybrid setup to a tighter full polyester string. Natural gut strings have more of a trampoline effect on the ball than their polyester counterparts, and Medvedev explained that it was hindering him early on. 'I could hit a bit more and maybe miss less,' Medvedev explained in a news conference after the match, without commenting on the exact nature of what he changed. 'When I tried them on practice, people were killing me. So maybe in the match it's a bit different, everyone is a bit tight so going through the court less. I changed for something (with which) I would make fewer mistakes.' Medvedev's search for the right racket strings feels symptomatic of his ongoing quest to rediscover his best tennis. The former world No. 1 and U.S. Open champion could well drop out of the world's top 15 after this latest setback. Charlie Eccleshare Something might be going on with Hailey Baptiste, the 23-year-old Washington D.C. native. Baptiste, yet another product of the Junior Tennis Champions Center, the same Maryland academy that produced Frances Tiafoe and Robin Montgomery, has already won 13 WTA Tour matches this year, more than any other season. Advertisement She made it through qualifying in Indian Wells, Calif., and in Rome. She beat the world No. 12, Daria Kasatkina, in Miami. On Monday she beat Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil, a French Open semifinalist two years ago, coming back from a set down to blow past the Brazilian 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. In an interview after her win Monday, Baptiste said she decided to get back to believing in herself after a period of doubting whether she could stay with the best players in the world. Each win has given her a little more belief. Having her two quasi big brothers — Frances and Franklin Tiafoe — in her box during plenty of matches, helps, too. Another factor in her favor? Unlike most Americans, clay is her favorite surface. 'I just like the movement of sliding around, I like that you can be more crafty and you kind of have to play tennis a little bit more rather than smack the balls,' she said. Baptiste can indeed smack it, on both wings. She can sometimes get tight late in matches, especially when she is trying to close out opponents. That didn't happen Tuesday against Haddad Maia, even after she lost her first two match points on Haddad Maia's serve. Baptiste finished off the Brazilian easily in the next game, staying on the front foot through the finish line. 'I don't want to be playing the way she wants me to play, running around, letting my opponent be the aggressor,' she said. She will face Nao Hibino of Japan Thursday for a spot in the third round. Matt Futterman Tell us what you noticed on the third day… (Top photo of Gaël Monfils: Franck Fife / AFP via Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic)
