In a gripping encounter at the Monte Carlo Masters, Britain's Jack Draper faced a challenging defeat against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, losing 6-3, 6-7 (8-6), 6-4 in the third round on April 10, 2025. Draper, the fifth seed and fresh off his first ATP Masters title at Indian Wells, struggled to find his rhythm on the clay surface, leading to a series of unforced errors and double faults that ultimately cost him the match.
The match was characterized by its see-saw nature, with Draper showing flashes of brilliance but ultimately falling short against a seasoned opponent. Draper started slowly, quickly finding himself down 2-0 as Davidovich Fokina capitalized on his early errors. Despite this rocky start, Draper managed to level the score at 2-2 with two flawless games, showcasing his fighting spirit.
However, the Spaniard broke back in the eighth game, taking the first set 6-3. Draper, who had previously dispatched Marcos Giron in a comfortable 6-1, 6-1 victory just two days earlier, was visibly frustrated with his performance, often shouting at himself to "wake up" and regain focus.
The second set saw Draper fall behind once again, trailing 3-1 before a brief interruption due to a spectator fainting in the stands. This break seemed to rejuvenate Draper, allowing him to claw his way back into contention. He broke Davidovich Fokina's serve and managed to force a tie-break, where he displayed remarkable composure to win 8-6, leveling the match at one set apiece.
As the final set unfolded, momentum shifted back and forth. Draper initially fell behind 3-1, but he broke back to level the score again at 3-3. However, the match took a crucial turn when Draper served at 5-4, where a tenth double fault sealed his fate, handing the victory to Davidovich Fokina.
Throughout the match, Draper struggled with his serve, landing only 48% of his first serves and committing ten double faults. In contrast, Davidovich Fokina, who had grown up playing on clay courts, managed to convert crucial break points effectively, taking advantage of Draper's inconsistency. Draper ended the match with 46 unforced errors, a stark contrast to his earlier performance against Giron.
After the match, Davidovich Fokina reflected on his performance, stating, "Today I didn’t feel at my best or at my best mentally with my strategy. It was a rollercoaster with my mind, I didn’t know how to control the emotions and I didn’t respect myself or my team. I am so sorry with how I did it today but I am happy for the win and I will try to improve for tomorrow." He acknowledged Draper’s potential, saying, "Today, Jack could have won because he was playing better than me, I was struggling with every point but I knew how to stay on my serve and try with all my body in the last game. I am happy with how I did in the last game."
Draper's defeat comes as a disappointment after his recent triumph at Indian Wells, where he claimed his first ATP Masters title. The 23-year-old, now ranked sixth in the world, had been optimistic about improving his clay-court game, a surface he has historically found challenging.
The Monte Carlo Masters, one of the premier events on the ATP Tour, serves as a crucial warm-up for players ahead of the French Open. Draper's exit means he will have to regroup quickly as he prepares for upcoming tournaments. Meanwhile, Davidovich Fokina advances to the quarter-finals, where he will face either Alexei Popyrin or Casper Ruud.
As the clay-court season progresses, Draper will need to refine his game and learn from this experience if he hopes to make an impact in future tournaments. His ability to bounce back from this defeat will be key as he aims to solidify his position among the top players in the world.
