Draper given reality check by inspired Bublik at French Open

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros

Jack Draper was given a reality check as world number 62 Alexander Bublik produced a phenomenal fourth-round performance to end British interest in the French Open singles.

World number five Draper lost his way in a 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-4 defeat by the maverick Kazakh.

The British number one was largely expected to continue his sharp rise on the clay and tee up a potential quarter-final against top seed Jannik Sinner, who plays his last-16 match later on Monday.

However, Bublik unleashed an array of spectacular shot-making – using the drop-shot to devastating effect in particular – on his way to a superb victory.

It is Draper’s worst defeat by ranking since his first-round exit at Roland Garros last year.

“It’s a really tough loss to take,” said Draper, who had never won a French Open match before this year.

“Even though I’ve come up quickly this year and I’ve got myself to a high ranking, it’s been a steep learning curve for me.

“I’ll learn from this. I’ll get better and I’ll use it to my advantage.”

A tense finish saw 27-year-old Bublik spurn one match point – and save five break points – before eventually getting over the line.

“Sometimes in life there is only one chance and today, I think it was mine,” said Bublik, who was ranked as high as 17th in 2024.

“I couldn’t let it slip. I think it is the best moment of my life.”

Suffering a shock loss in the Roland Garros last 16 is a mark of how far Draper has come in the past year.

Twelve months ago in Paris, the 23-year-old Englishman suffered a chastening first-round defeat to 176th-ranked Dutchman Jesper de Jong while still figuring out what his most effective game style was.

Realising he was trying to be too aggressive, Draper sought a better balance.

Winning his first ATP title just a few weeks later helped boost his confidence before he enjoyed a run to the US Open semi-finals.

Improved fitness has also been a key factor in his rise.

After winning the biggest title of his career on the Indian Wells hard courts in March, he quickly set about using his most potent tools – first serve and forehand – on the clay.

Reaching the Madrid Open final showed he had the ability to be succeed on the surface and the fifth seed played maturely in his first three matches in Paris, before being thrown off-kilter by Bublik.

There is no doubting Bublik’s talent, but plenty of questions have been raised about his application.

He was locked in from the start as neither player could create a break opportunity in an evenly matched opening set until Draper applied pressure in the 10th game.

Bublik buckled, with a double fault gifting Draper the chance to serve out the opening set – and the Briton took his opportunity.

But Draper was punished as soon as his level dropped in the second set, with Bublik coming back from an early break down to level the match.

The increasing use – and success – of the drop-shot allowed Bublik to forge a double-break lead in the third set, with Draper looking increasingly befuddled as he tried to find a solution.