Competing in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time in his still embryonic career, British number one Jack Draper battles Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Thursday.
The Indian Wells Masters champion dismantled Marcos Giron in his opening battle, while Fokina followed up his shock beating of Ben Shelton by eliminating Tomas Martin Etcheverry last time out.
Match preview
© Iconsport
Re-energised and rejuvenated following a whirlwind fortnight in the United States - where his run to Indian Wells glory preceded an early exit at the Miami Open - Draper was back to his brutally brilliant best when he opened his Monte-Carlo campaign against Giron.
The fifth seed thrashed the American 6-1 6-1 in his second-round tie - appropriately taking just 61 minutes to finish the job - and he did not even have to be anywhere near close to perfect to wrap up an emphatic victory in just over an hour.
Indeed, Draper double-faulted twice and also gave away four break points to Giron, but he saved all of them and put away 21 winners compared to just nine for the American, who also won just 24% of points on his second serve.
Boasting ATP Tour titles on both hard and grass courts, the world number six has expressed optimism about his chances of success during the clay-court swing as he adapts his game to the red dirt, all in the hope of finally earning his first-ever French Open match win later this summer.
However, before Roland-Garros takes precedence, Draper finds himself just one match away from a fourth career quarter-final in an ATP 1000 event, although the 23-year-old shall take nothing for granted against a man who has already competed in one Monte-Carlo final.
© Imago
In his first and only ATP 1000 showpiece match to date, Fokina was slain in two sets by Stefanos Tsitsipas during the 2022 Monte-Carlo showpiece, and the 25-year-old's agonising wait for a first top-level singles title is still ongoing.
It has not been for the want of trying for Fokina this year in particular, though, as after waiting almost three years for another ATP Tour final, two came in quick succession for the Spaniard during February's Delray Beach Open and Mexico Open.
However, the world number 42 had to accept the runners-up prize in both of those competitions too, but he has ostensibly used those defeats as fuel for another run on his favoured surface; he also made the French Open and Monte-Carlo quarters in 2021.
After an exceptional comeback win over Shelton in the first round of the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters - where he dropped just three games in the final two sets - Fokina saw off Etcheverry 7-6[2] 6-3 in round two, saving seven of the eight break points he faced and managing 29 winners compared to the Argentine's 15.
The 25-year-old's earlier win over Shelton was not the only striking success he has managed in 2025 - he also bested Frances Tiafoe in Acapulco and Taylor Fritz in Florida - giving rise to another potential upset on Thursday afternoon.
Tournament so far
Jack Draper:
First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Marcos Giron 6-1 6-1
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina:
First round: vs. Ben Shelton 6-7[2] 6-2 6-1
Second round: vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6[2] 6-3
Head To Head
Thursday's third-round match will mark the first-ever competitive contest between Draper and Fokina, as the British leftie faces a right-handed Spanish foe, one who comes in at 5ft 11in compared to the fifth seed's 6ft 4in.
With 14 victories and just three defeats on his record this year, Draper's 82% win rate significantly trumps Fokina's 65%; the latter has prevailed in 15 and lost eight of his 23 contests so far in 2025.
We say: Draper to win in two sets
Fokina has established a reputation as one of the ATP Tour's great entertainers - never shying away from a diving volley - and he should not give up on returning any of Draper's ferocious shots.
However, with the British number one in such scintillating form and transitioning well to clay, Fokina's resistance should prove futile as Draper surges into the quarter-finals.
Ben Knapton
