PARIS — British tennis star Jack Draper suffered a shock exit from the French Open on Monday, falling to world No. 62 Jesper de Jong in a grueling five-set battle. The 22-year-old, who had been tipped as a dark horse for the tournament, was left stunned after a 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(3), 3-6, 6-3 defeat on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Draper, ranked 35th in the world, had been in strong form heading into the match, having dispatched qualifier Jesper de Jong in straight sets in the previous round. However, the Dutchman proved a far tougher opponent, capitalizing on Draper’s unforced errors and inconsistent serving to secure one of the biggest wins of his career.
A Match of Twists and Turns
The match began with both players trading breaks in the opening set, but de Jong’s relentless baseline play and clever drop shots unsettled Draper. The Brit struggled to find his rhythm, committing 42 unforced errors in the first two sets alone. "I just couldn’t find my game today," Draper admitted in his post-match press conference. "Jesper played really well, and I didn’t adjust quickly enough."
Draper managed to claw his way back into the contest, taking the third set in a tiebreak and dominating the fourth with aggressive net play. However, de Jong regrouped in the decider, breaking Draper twice to seal the victory after three hours and 45 minutes.
Key Factors in Draper’s Defeat
Several critical issues contributed to Draper’s unexpected exit:
- Serve Struggles: Draper’s first-serve percentage dropped to just 54% in the fifth set, allowing de Jong to attack his second serve.
- Unforced Errors: The Brit finished with 78 unforced errors, nearly double de Jong’s count.
- Fatigue: Draper appeared visibly drained in the final set, raising questions about his physical conditioning.
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman noted in commentary, "Jack’s game relies so much on his serve and forehand, and when those aren’t firing, he struggles to find a plan B."
De Jong’s Breakthrough Moment
For de Jong, the victory marked a career-defining achievement. The 23-year-old, who had never advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam before, credited his mental resilience. "I stayed calm even when he came back. I believed in my game and just kept fighting," he said.
The Dutchman’s next challenge will be a fourth-round clash against world No. 8 Casper Ruud, who cruised past his opponent in straight sets earlier in the day.
What’s Next for Draper?
Despite the disappointment, Draper remains optimistic about his future. "It’s a setback, but I’ll learn from it. I need to work on my consistency and fitness," he said. The Brit will now shift his focus to the grass-court season, where he’ll aim to make an impact at Wimbledon.
British tennis fans had high hopes for Draper, who reached the semifinals in Lyon just weeks before Roland Garros. His early exit leaves Cameron Norrie as the last British man standing in the singles draw.
Reactions from the Tennis World
The upset sparked reactions across social media, with many praising de Jong’s performance while expressing sympathy for Draper. Tennis analyst David Law tweeted, "Draper has so much potential, but today was a reminder that mental toughness is just as important as talent."
Meanwhile, former French Open champion Mats Wilander told Eurosport, "This loss will hurt, but if Jack uses it as motivation, he’ll come back stronger. He’s too good not to."
As the dust settles on Draper’s French Open campaign, the young Brit will need to regroup quickly. With Wimbledon just weeks away, the pressure will be on to deliver on the grass courts where he’s historically excelled.
For now, though, the spotlight shifts to de Jong, whose Cinderella run continues in Paris. The Dutchman’s victory serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Grand Slam tennis, where rankings often mean little once the first ball is struck.
Draper’s defeat also raises broader questions about the depth of men’s tennis, with lower-ranked players increasingly capable of toppling established names. As the tournament progresses, fans will be watching closely to see if more surprises lie in store.
In the end, Draper’s loss is a bitter pill to swallow, but one that could ultimately shape him into a more complete player. As he put it himself, "You learn more from defeats like this than from easy wins."