Jack Draper’s 60-minute demolition job marks turning point on clay

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Jack Draper took little time in dismantling Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-1 in the Monte-Carlo Masters – Getty Images/Clive Brunskill

Jack Draper began his clay-court season in blistering fashion as he swept past Marcos Giron at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

Having broken into the top 10 after his career-defining Masters triumph in Indian Wells last month, Draper knows the next job on his bucket list is to single himself out as a competent clay player. This 60-minute demolition job suggested he is more than up for the challenge.

Draper won just four matches out of 10 on the surface last year, which culminated in a disappointing opening-round defeat at the French Open. He has admitted that clay is “not my first surface”, but judging by the ruthless manner in which he cruised past his American opponent to secure a 6-1, 6-1 second-round victory, he may develop a liking to the red dust.

“There aren’t easy conditions here, sometimes it’s lively, sometimes it’s a bit slower when you’re playing a bit later, but I feel like I’ve been transitioning well to the clay,” said Draper, who was scheduled fourth on the Court des Parc court after receiving a first-round bye. “I’ve been working really hard to look for my forehand and do all the right things to be effective on this surface because I’ve struggled a little bit [on it] over the last couple of years but hopefully, with my new tennis, I can have a good run.”

This was Draper’s 14th win this calendar year and he recognises he will have something of a target on his back over the clay-court season. To put his impressive rise over the past 12 months into context – during which he has won titles in Stuttgart and Vienna – when he entered this event this time last year, he was ranked 39 in the world.

Here he looked every inch a fearless top-10 player, executing a well-rounded performance by ripping forehands deep into the corners to which Giron simply had no answer. His 21 winners and the loss of just two games were also confirmation that his shock defeat in the second round of the Miami Open last month was all but a blip. The snapshot of the lopsided nature of the contest came at the start of the second set, when Giron squandered an easy smash and Draper coaxed a backhand down the line.

“I’m growing in confidence, it’s obviously been a bit of an adjustment,” said Draper, who celebrated his win with a quiet fist pump. Last year, I came here 40-odd in the world and now I’m No 6. It’s been an amazing year but I want to keep it up after the hard work. I know people will be after me, that’s for sure.”

With Draper currently sitting at No 3 in the current-year rankings and with very few ranking points to defend, he has a glorious opportunity to climb even further with a positive clay-court season and earn himself a more comfortable draw at Wimbledon later this year. If he can keep this sort of top-level tennis up, there is every possibility of that becoming a reality.

07:03 PM BST

When will Draper play next?

Draper is due to play again on Thursday, where he will meet the winner of Tomás Martín Etcheverry and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

06:54 PM BST

Draper’s dominance in numbers

  • 21 winners (12 forehand, five aces)
  • 31/43 points won on serve
  • 15/41 serves unreturned
  • 7/11 points won at the net
  • 57/89 of total points won

06:45 PM BST

Draper reacts

It’s not easy conditions here sometimes, it can be slower if you’re on later, but I think I’m transitioning well to clay.

I’ve worked really hard to look for my forehand and be effective on this surface as I’ve struggled on it a bit in the last couple of years.

06:36 PM BST

WATCH: How Draper completed victory

06:23 PM BST

Draper 6-1, 6-1 Giron*

Rafael Nadal-like forehand winner down the line from Draper to start the game. He then crushes another forehand return to make it, 0-30.

Another Draper return proves to be too good for Giron and after one hour, the Briton has a match point.

GAME SET MATCH DRAPER! Giron forehand into the net and Draper cruises into the next round.

06:18 PM BST

Draper* 6-1, 5-1 Giron

Rare serve and volley from Draper works a treat for him at 30-30 but Giron earns a break point with a forehand winner.

Ace by Draper to snuff out Giron’s hopes of a break, deuce. Heavier ball striking from Giron at the moment and his ball down the line stretches Draper and he nets a backhand. Break point…

Frustration for Giron after he sends his backhand return wide. He had to make the court there. But Draper comes through his biggest test on serve today to move one game away from victory. 

06:10 PM BST

Draper 6-1, 4-1 Giron*

Giron is spraying the ball here and it is allowing Draper to run away with this. Three errors in a row and Draper breaks again.

06:07 PM BST

Draper* 6-1, 3-1 Giron

Such a calmness and authority to Draper’s game at the moment. He consolidates the break here and is not far away now from the third round.

06:04 PM BST

Shot of the tournament from Draper

06:03 PM BST

Draper 6-1, 2-1 Giron*

The injections of pace from Draper are drawing gasps at times from the crowd. He’s putting on a real show here and Giron is just a bystander.

A backhand long by Giron gives Draper a break point. And the pressure is too much for him as her errors again.

Draper breaks.

05:55 PM BST

Draper* 6-1, 1-1 Giron

Another routine service hold from Draper as he holds in what felt like a minute.

05:54 PM BST

Second Set: Draper 6-1, 0-1 Giron* (*denotes server)

Shot of the match from Draper. Giron has an easy smash to put away but Draper anticipates it and coolly strokes a backhand down the line, 40-15. 

Giron holds to end the run of games against him, but there’s a shell-shocked look on his face at the moment.

05:49 PM BST

Draper* 6-1 Giron

28 minutes in and Draper has three set points. And he takes it at the very first attempt with a whipped forehand winner, his ninth of the match.

Brutal, big-hitting tennis from Draper.

05:46 PM BST

Draper 5-1 Giron*

Draper expertly slides into his forehand and whips a winner down the line, 0-30. He then runs around his backhand on Giron’s first serve and hammers a forehand down the line for a winner, 0-40.

Giron manages to save the first two break points. Can he save a third? No. Giron can’t get the ball away from Draper’s forehand and gets dragged around the court before dumping a backhand into the net.

Draper breaks and will serve for the set.

05:42 PM BST

Draper* 4-1 Giron

After 21 minutes, Draper consolidates the break with a routine service hold. Giron is struggling with the firepower coming from Draper’s racket at the moment. Only complacency will stop Draper winning this match.

05:38 PM BST

Draper 3-1 Giron*

Ideal response by Draper to a tricky hold of serve in the previous game. He earns himself three break points to move 0-40 ahead. Giron holds the first two but not the third after netting a forehand.

Draper is bullying Giron with his forehand. Draper breaks.

05:33 PM BST

Draper* 2-1 Giron

Wild forehand by Draper and he slips to 15-40. It has been a loose game from him so far. He saves the first break point. And the second with an outstanding backhand overhead smash on the full stretch to make it deuce.

And he seals the game with a forehand dropshot winner. Great recovery from Draper.

05:28 PM BST

Draper 1-1 Giron*

The clay is obviously a much slower surface compared to grass and hard courts so we can expect long rallies tonight. Draper won’t be able to blast through Giron like he probably would on other surfaces. It will be a test of his patience and ability to take his chances on break points. 

Draper, intent on proving me wrong, strikes an angled forehand winner to make it deuce. But Giron comes through the game with a forehand winner of his own.

Early signs from Draper that he sees an opportunity with the drop shot against Giron.

05:22 PM BST

First Set: Jack Draper* 1-0 Marcos Giron (*denotes server)

Giron won the toss and opted to receive first and he might think he made a great decision after Draper double faults on the opening point. 

Draper hits back with an ace and back-to-back errors from Giron make it 40-15.

And blasts through the first game with a forehand winner. Solid start.

05:12 PM BST

Draper in Monte-Carlo

Hello and welcome to coverage from Monte-Carlo as British No 1 Jack Draper gets his clay court season underway.

Draper takes on American Marcos Giron in the second round after a first round bye. Clay is the one surface where Draper has much to improve on but he is excited by the chance to work on his skills.

He said: “I feel like I haven’t had too much exposure to clay. A couple of years ago, I got injured so I wasn’t able to play too much.

“Last year, I lost a couple of really close matches to top 10 players and I wasn’t able to get my feet off the ground. This year, I feel better in all areas, so I’m looking forward to seeing what’s to come and what I can do on this surface. I definitely have a lot to prove.”

Being a left handed player has drawn comparison between Draper and clay court great Rafael Nadal but the Briton says that is premature.

“Being compared to Rafa is not right, to be honest,” he told discovery+ ahead of. “He’s obviously an icon of the game and a 14-time Roland-Garros [winner], it’s nuts.

“I definitely think being a lefty and having that loopy forehand and stuff is pretty similar, but there are definitely areas in my game I need to improve on to get to his standard.”

Draper’s success this season has brought him increased attention, but Tim Henman believes he has everything in place to handle the scrutiny.

He said: “I definitely think Jack has the capacity mentally, physically and technically to deal with it. And also, I think he’s got a very good team around him who will provide that support.

“So yes, it’s still a steep learning curve for Jack. He’s just broken into the top 10, but I think he’s playing brilliant tennis. I still think there’s plenty of areas that he can improve on.

“He’s got a busy clay court season coming up, but it will be exciting when he gets to the grass in the UK.”

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