Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Roland Garros match.
Gaël Monfils delivered a stunning comeback on Court Philippe Chatrier, clawing back from two sets down to defeat Hugo Dellien. The crowd responded with thunderous applause as Gaël Monfils produced an emotionally charged performance. However, the second-round clash against top-10 opponent Jack Draper represents an altogether sterner test. In this match-up, charisma and home support may not be enough—particularly given Gaël Monfils’s physical condition following a punishing five-set battle.
Gaël Monfils
Even at the peak of his career, Gaël Monfils struggled against top-five opponents on clay, managing just 7 wins from 22 encounters. Now, he is contending with a knee injury sustained during the match against Hugo Dellien. While he showed tremendous determination, Gaël Monfils looked physically depleted, and a full recovery within 24 hours appears unlikely. His statistics from that match were far from encouraging: a 61% first-serve rate and 50 unforced errors.
Jack Draper
Jack Draper has shown impressive form this season and appears well-adapted to clay, winning 10 of his 13 matches on the surface so far. His record against players over the age of 30 is particularly strong, with 31 wins from 39 matches. In the first round, Jack Draper eased past Thomaz Bellucci, dropping just one set en route to a 3:6, 6:1, 6:4, 6:2 victory. He struck 43 winners and committed only 26 unforced errors.
Gaël Monfils vs Jack Draper Prediction
Gaël Monfils may be able to keep things close early on, but over a best-of-five format, Jack Draper’s superior physical condition and current form should make the difference. At this stage, the disparity in performance levels between the two is considerable.
