Jack Draper claims he’s lastly prepared to interrupt his French Open duck.
The British No 1 enters the second Grand Slam of the season because the fifth seed – regardless of having by no means gained a match at Roland Garros.
Draper was ranked thirty ninth on this planet when he was crushed by qualifier Jesper De Jong within the first spherical final yr.
It proved one thing of a watershed second for the Londoner, who has since been a US Open semi-finalist, an ATP Masters winner and climbed into the world’s high 5.
Draper, who faces Italian Mattia Bellucci within the first spherical, admitted: “It is bizarre, I’ve by no means gained a match right here, however I come right here feeling good about my tennis.
“After I’ve performed right here up to now, I do not really feel like I’ve entered the courtroom with any confidence or any perception that I might do fairly nicely.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Jack Draper reacts to his quarter-final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in Rome while Tim Henman and Laura Robson have their say on his post-match interview
“It is like I have been right here, however I have not. I am trying ahead to coming right here and feeling like I’m – assured.
“I feel with the way in which I am enjoying, the truth that I’ve actually improved rather a lot just lately and my rating goes up and I really feel assured, I feel there is a good probability I can do rather well. I am trying ahead to that problem.”
Draper might face one other Italian, world No 1 Jannik Sinner, within the final eight.
Fellow Briton Sonay Kartal is as much as a career-high 53rd within the WTA rankings and has designs on breaking into the highest 50 by the point Wimbledon comes round.
The 23-year-old from Brighton, who will make her Roland Garros debut in opposition to Russian Erika Andreeva on Sunday, mentioned: “That is positively one thing I need to try to obtain this week.
“I need to go into the grass ideally inside the highest 50. That might be a giant purpose for me. If I might try this this week I am going to acquire a number of confidence from that.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Highlights of the ATP match between Jack Draper and Carlos Alcaraz in Rome
Simply 15 locations separate Kartal, Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter on this planet rankings, with a race creating to grow to be British No 1.
“Clearly it will be an enormous honour to be that,” Kartal added. “I’ve nonetheless received a number of time. I am solely 23. It is not my solely purpose that I am pushing in direction of. I feel I’ve received much more issues that I need to obtain.”
Boulter, who has topped the British rankings since June 2023, mentioned: “If my rating goes in the best path, I am going to stay there. If not, nice. It means the opposite ladies are doing rather well.”
Not one of the seven British entrants – Cameron Norrie, Jacob Fearnley and Jodie Burrage make up the contingent – are in motion on the opening Sunday.
Raducanu will play her first-round match, in opposition to China’s Wang Xinyu, on Monday.
Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions, in addition to the US Open in New York, dwell on Sky Sports activities in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this yr at no additional price. Find out more here.
Trending Merchandise
