Jack Draper Dominates Marcos Giron at Monte Carlo Masters

MONTE CARLO, Monaco — British number one Jack Draper showcased an impressive performance in his first clay court match of the season, defeating American Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

The match, which lasted just 61 minutes, marked Draper’s best result at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament on clay. Draper, now ranked sixth in the world, is looking to continue building on his successful season, having recently claimed the title at Indian Wells in March.

After receiving a bye in the first round, Draper faced Giron, ranked 45th, and displayed dominant form throughout the match, hitting five aces and 21 winners compared to Giron’s nine. Draper was quick to eliminate any break point opportunities, showcasing his exceptional service game.

“It’s not easy conditions here sometimes, playing later in the day, but I feel like I have been transitioning well to the clay,” Draper said in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “I’ve been working hard to look for my forehand and be effective on this surface.”

Despite his previous struggles on clay courts, Draper’s confidence appears to be on the rise after an impressive start to the year. He reeling off five straight games in both sets, reflecting his mastery over the match.

In the upcoming round, Draper will face either Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry for a chance to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

Earlier in the tournament, former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini pulled off a significant upset, defeating second-seeded Alexander Zverev, who is currently ranked second in the world. Berrettini battled back from a set down, clinching the win with scores of 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Following his victory, Berrettini expressed his determination to continue his run, awaiting either compatriot Lorenzo Musetti or Czech Jiri Lehecka in the next round.

Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced after overcoming Australian Jordan Thompson 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. In another first-round match, former world number three Grigor Dimitrov from Bulgaria defeated Chilean Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 6-4.

The excitement continues to build at the Monte Carlo Masters as Draper looks to prove himself further on clay, a surface where he has struggled in past seasons, aiming for a deeper run this year.