Jack Draper has a different status coming into the French Open this year after an impressive start to the 2025 season.
Draper won the biggest title of his career at Indian Wells, enabling him to break into the top 10 for the first time in his career.
The Brit has been able to continue this momentum into the clay court season, with Draper now the world number five after reaching the final of the Madrid Open.
While Draper has been one of the best players on tour this year, he has now admitted that there are some things he finds challenging about his new elevated status.
Jack Draper explains what he has been struggling with since becoming a top player
Currently at his career-high ranking of world number five, things look to be pretty good for Draper at the moment.
However, Draper is not content with his current situation and told BBC Sport that he would struggle if he did not have new upward goals to aim for.
“I’m at the stage where I’m trying to adapt to being ‘on’ all the time – which is what I want to do,” said Draper. But it doesn’t come easy. You need to learn to deal with that and be the best you can.
“I’ve always been someone who’s quite wired – [I’m] someone who wants to achieve things all the time. I want to keep on moving forwards. I have to be progressing, otherwise I’m struggling.”
Draper will have lots to improve on when he begins his French Open campaign this year.
Jack Draper’s previous results at the French Open
This year will be Draper’s third appearance at the French Open, but he is still without a win at the clay court major.
Last year saw the 23-year-old lose in five sets to Jesper de Jong, while in 2023 Draper was forced to retire due to a shoulder injury.
| Year | Jack Draper’s French Open Result |
| 2023 | First Round – Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat Draper, 6-4 1-0 (Draper retired) |
| 2024 | First Round – Jesper de Jong beat Draper, 7-5 6-4 6(3)-7 3-6 6-3 |
Draper will play Mattia Bellucci, who he has beaten before, in his first round match at the French Open this year.
Despite being the overwhelming favourite to beat the Italian, Draper is not looking too far ahead into the draw.
The first seeded player that Draper could play in Paris is Hubert Hurkacz, who was just beaten by Novak Djokovic in the Geneva final.
