Preview: French Open: Alexander Bublik vs. Jack Draper - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

Two first-time French Open fourth-round participants clash on Monday as Alexander Bublik and Jack Draper vie for a quarter-final berth.

After hard-fought battles in the previous round, both players dispatched their third-round opponents in straight sets on Saturday, with Bublik defeating Henrique Rocha and the British No. 1 ending Joao Fonseca's Roland Garros debut.

Match preview

© Imago

Two sets down against Alex de Minaur in round two, Bublik was on the verge of elimination at that stage but rallied to win sets three, four and five for a 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory.

That triumph propelled the 27-year-old into his first third-round match in his seventh Roland Garros appearance, and a 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 win against Rocha has taken the towering four-time ATP champion into the fourth round.

Having mirrored his 2023 Wimbledon performance, the Kazakhstani now aims to avoid the same fate that befell him against Andrey Rublev as he seeks to reach his first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final.

The 27-year-old entered the second Grand Slam of the year after winning a Challenger event in Turin, marking his first title on clay, whether on the main tour or the Challenger circuit.

Seeking to improve his 14-6 overall record on the surface in 2025, the world No. 62 endeavours to upset the British No. 1 for a maiden last-eight appearance in the French capital.

© Iconsport

The fifth seed had not won a match at Roland Garros prior to this year's event but has now secured three victories to progress to the fourth round.

Defeating teenage sensation Fonseca on Saturday in straight sets was just the tonic for the three-time ATP titlist after a physically demanding four-setter against Frenchman Gael Monfils that lasted over four hours.

Despite Fonseca's potential and rapidly growing support, the fifth seed required only one hour and 46 minutes to dismantle the 18-year-old, achieving a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory.

With Saturday's win, the 23-year-old has now claimed three consecutive last-16 appearances at Grand Slams, advancing to the semi-finals in the United States, where he lost to Jannik Sinner, and retiring injured in Australia in January after being outplayed by Carlos Alcaraz.

Not facing either French Open contender in Monday's contest, Draper, who boasts a 25-6 record for the season and a 12-3 record on clay, aims to secure a 13th victory on the surface to reach the quarter-finals and face either Sinner or Rublev.

Tournament so far

Alexander Bublik:

First round: vs. James Duckworth 6-2 6-4 6-4
Second round: vs. Alex de Minaur 2-6 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-2
Third round: vs. Henrique Rocha 7-5 6-1 6-2

Jack Draper:

First round: vs. Mattia Bellucci 3-6 6-1 6-4 6-2
Second round: vs. Gael Monfils 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-5
Third round: vs. Joao Fonseca 6-2 6-4 6-2

Head To Head

Adelaide (2024) - Semi-final: Draper 7-6(2) 6-4

Queen's Club (2021) - Round of 16: Draper 7-6(5) 7-6(0)

Although Draper has won every set in both meetings with Bublik on the ATP Tour, there have been three tiebreaks in those encounters.

The British player's victories have come on grass and hard courts, and he seeks to extend his 2-0 advantage to secure a third win in their first matchup on clay.

That ambition is bolstered by the fact that Bublik holds a 10-24 overall record against top-10 players, with four wins among his last ten encounters of such nature, including victories over Sinner in Halle two years ago and Rublev three times in Halle (2023), Dubai (2024) and Madrid (2025).

© PA Photos

We say: Draper to win in four sets

Having faced a home player in Monfils in the previous round and a teenager with a large following, Draper enters Monday's fourth round aware that he may not find the same level of motivation against a partisan crowd as he faces Bublik.

Nevertheless, the Briton is expected to triumph in four tight sets, progressing to his first French Open quarter-final to confront Sinner or Rublev.

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