Jack Draper wished Gael Monfils a quick recovery and noted this wasn’t the way he wanted to reach the Montreal Masters quarterfinal. In the Montreal last-16, qualifier Draper had a 6-2 0-2 lead when Monfils sustained a foot injury.
After receiving a medical help, Monfils tried to continue the match but walked to the net after just taking a few steps. “I know what it’s like to do an ankle,” a subdued Draper said post-match. “I did one last year and rebounded.
I hope Gael is alright. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season. I guess to be in the quarter-finals is nice for myself, but it’s never how you want it to happen.”
Draper wishes Monfils a speedy recovery
Mid-May, Monfils underwent a heel procedure.
This week, Monfils was playing his first tournament since early May and Madrid. In his first tournament back, Monfils appeared to re-aggravate the injury that forced him to be out for three months. Following Monfils’ retirement, Draper reached his first Masters quarterfinal.
Draper, who won four Challenger titles this year, first had to make it past the Montreal qualifying event in order to even make the main draw. After successfully getting past the qualifying event, Draper defeated Hugo Gaston and stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“On Tour, sometimes it’s your week,” Draper said of his Montreal run. “If you train hard every day and keep your head down, I suppose these things happen. I’m very happy to be in the quarter-finals here.
It means a lot.” After dominating the Challenger Tour earlier this year, Draper is slowly establishing himself on the main level. Draper is currently the 82nd-ranked player in the world and he is set for a notable rankings jump when the ATP list gets updated this Monday.
Draper is considered as one of the most promising young players on the ATP Tour. With Andy Murray’s career slowly coming to an end, the Brits are hoping Draper becomes the next big thing and a British Grand Slam champion.
