Jack Draper Admits He’s ‘Long Way Behind’ Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz After Crashing Out of Roland Garros

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will set up a blockbuster showdown if they reach the French Open final.

Jack Draper Admits He’s ‘Long Way Behind’ Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz After Crashing Out of Roland Garros

Jannik Sinner, Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Jannik Sinner, Sky Sports, Carlos Alcaraz)

Had Jack Draper reached the quarterfinals, he would have scheduled a clash with his friend Jannik Sinner. But Draper, after ending Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca‘s run in straight sets in the third round, squandered his first-set lead to lose his fourth-round match against Alexander Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Prior to this year, Draper had never progressed beyond the first round of the French Open. Bublik, on the other hand, has made it to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. It was his first win over the reigning Indian Wells champion in their three meetings.

Draper last year produced his best Grand Slam performance when he reached the US Open semifinal (lost to eventual winner Sinner in straight sets). This season, he made it to the Australian Open fourth round for the first time.

Although the 23-year-old Briton has been performing consistently this season, he still has a long way to go to catch up with Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, both of whom have three and four Majors under their belts respectively. Following his defeat, Draper said that he still has to learn a lot to reach the level of Sinner and defending champion Alcaraz, who he could have faced in the championship match.

I still think I’m a long way behind those boys, a little bit. I’ve still got a lot to learn. If you look at the matches, they’ve probably played double the amount that I’ve played. They’re probably a year or two years ahead of me. Obviously achieved a lot more. A lot more experience.

Jack Draper said at the press conference

Alcaraz is chasing his 11th clay-court title and this third on the surface this year, following the Monte Carlo Masters and the Italian Open which he won by beating Lorenzo Musetti and Sinner, respectively. Sinner, on the other hand, is chasing his second title of the season following his Australian Open triumph.

Tim Henman sends warning to Carlos Alcaraz ahead of potential clash with Jannik Sinner

For former ATP pro Tim Henman, Carlos Alcaraz is the favorite to win the French Open ahead of Jannik Sinner. The Italian ace has clinched only one title on the red dirt (the 2022 Umag Open by beating Alcaraz), which is way less than the Spaniard’s tally of 10.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Giovanni Pelazzo, Carlos Alcaraz)

Alcaraz holds a 7-4 head-to-head lead over Sinner and has secured wins in their last three encounters, including at the Italian Open final which they played before arriving in Paris. Sinner last year had suffered only six defeats, three of which came from Alcaraz, including in the French Open semifinal after a grueling five-setter. Even though Alcaraz has an edge over Sinner, he has often dealt with a lapse in concentration.

If he has those dips against a player like Jannik Sinner in the final, Sinner will take advantage. When you compare him to Sinner, he doesn’t have those dips. He is relentless in his ball striking when you see his match against Jiri Lehecka, it was incredible.

Tim Henman told Tennis365

Sinner, after hammering Lehecka, knocked out Andrey Rublev in straight sets to schedule a quarterfinal clash with Alexander Bublik, who he beat three times in their four encounters. The 23-year-old has not yet dropped a set in the tournament.

Alcaraz has so far lost three sets in three different matches, the latest of which was against America’s Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The 22-year-old will next be facing Tommy Paul in the last eight. He holds a 4-2 head-to-head lead over the World No.12. Sinner and Alcaraz will be pitted against each other only if they progress to the final.

Also read: Daria Kasatkina Surprised at How Fast Mirra Andreeva Has “Grown a Lot” After Losing to the Teenager at the Roland Garros