As the tennis world converges on Paris for the 2025 French Open, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to retain the Roland Garros crown. On Thursday morning, the 22-year-old Spaniard took to the hallowed clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier for an intense practice session with British rising star Jack Draper, igniting excitement among fans and setting the stage for a thrilling tournament. The session, a high-octane display of skill and strategy, underscored Alcaraz’s meticulous preparation and his respect for Draper, whom he recently hailed as a “dark horse” contender for the title. With the draw set to be revealed later that day, this practice duel offered a glimpse of the fierce competition awaiting at the year’s second Grand Slam, which kicks off on May 25.
Alcaraz, fresh off a semifinal run at the Italian Open, stepped onto the Parisian clay for the first time since his Olympic final loss to Novak Djokovic on August 4, 2024. The world No. 3, who secured his third Grand Slam title at Roland Garros last year, was all business as he traded blistering groundstrokes and deft drop shots with Draper. The session, which saw Draper edge out a tiebreak according to onlookers, was a testament to their competitive chemistry. “Jack, I think, he has shown the level he has. He can win against anyone in every tournament,” Alcaraz had said after defeating Draper 6-4, 6-4 in Rome, praising the Brit’s ability to challenge the best. Their practice on Chatrier, described as “absolutely excellent” by fans on social media, highlighted their mutual respect and shared ambition to dominate on clay.
Draper, the world No. 5, has enjoyed a breakout 2025 season, capturing his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells—where he defeated Alcaraz in the semifinals—and reaching the Madrid Open final. His clay-court prowess, bolstered by a new fitness regime under former Andy Murray aides Matt Little and Shane Annun, has made him a formidable force. Despite a straight-sets loss to Alcaraz in Rome, Draper pushed the Spaniard to his limits, creating six break points and forcing long service games. “Carlos was better tactically and emotionally than me,” Draper admitted post-match. “I sit here very frustrated with my match today. I could have tactically changed a few things better and I think emotionally I was too negative.” His determination to learn from that defeat was evident in Paris, where he matched Alcaraz’s intensity, even shading the practice set in a tiebreak.
The choice of Draper as a practice partner was no accident. Alcaraz, who missed planned offseason training with Draper in Alicante due to the Brit’s hip injury, values the challenge posed by the left-hander’s powerful forehand and improved physicality. Their head-to-head, which Alcaraz leads 4-2, includes a notable grass-court upset by Draper at Queen’s in 2024, where he dethroned the then-reigning Roland Garros champion. “I’m looking forward to going back to Roland-Garros after last year, which was a disappointing one,” Draper said after Rome. “I feel like I’ve never really played really good, confident tennis there, so I am looking forward to that.” His practice with Alcaraz signals his intent to make a deep run in Paris, where he’s yet to advance past the first round in two prior appearances.
The session also carried ranking implications. Alcaraz’s Rome performance secured him the No. 2 seed for Roland Garros, ensuring he won’t face top seed Jannik Sinner until a potential final. “I know that I could not face Jannik before the final if I go there and it’s good,” Alcaraz noted in Rome, relieved at avoiding an earlier clash with the world No. 1, whom he leads 6-4 in their rivalry. Draper, meanwhile, missed a chance to claim the No. 4 seed with his Rome loss but remains a top-five player, poised to avoid the top three seeds until the semifinals. Their practice duel, held hours before the Roland Garros draw on May 22, fueled speculation about a possible quarterfinal showdown, adding intrigue to the tournament.
Beyond the court, Alcaraz’s schedule was packed with off-court commitments, including a Babolat event and a Nike appearance, reflecting his status as a global tennis icon. Draper, sporting a new haircut that drew playful comparisons to “Peaky Blinders” character Tommy Shelby, has also captured attention for his evolving persona. As both players fine-tune their games on the red dirt, their practice session was a microcosm of the modern ATP Tour: young, dynamic talents pushing each other to new heights. With Alcaraz aiming to cement his clay-court legacy and Draper hungry to prove his Grand Slam credentials, their Chatrier clash was a tantalizing preview of what’s to come at Roland Garros.
# Alcaraz and Draper Ignite Roland Garros with Intense Practice Duel
## A Star-Studded Session on Chatrier
Defending French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his Roland Garros preparations with a high-intensity practice session against Jack Draper on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The Thursday morning duel, which saw Draper edge a tiebreak, electrified fans and set the tone for the 2025 tournament, starting May 25. Alcaraz, returning to the clay where he lost the 2024 Olympic final, traded blistering shots with the in-form Brit, showcasing their competitive rivalry.
## Alcaraz’s High Praise
Fresh off a 6-4, 6-4 win over Draper in Rome, Alcaraz lauded his practice partner’s potential. “Jack, I think, he has shown the level he has. He can win against anyone in every tournament,” he said, tipping Draper as a French Open “dark horse.” The Spaniard’s Rome performance earned him the No. 2 seed in Paris, ensuring he avoids Jannik Sinner until a potential final. “I know that I could not face Jannik before the final if I go there and it’s good,” he noted.
## Draper’s Breakout Season
Draper, world No. 5, has transformed into a clay-court threat, with an Indian Wells title and Madrid final in 2025. Despite his Rome loss, where he pushed Alcaraz to six break points, he reflected, “Carlos was better tactically and emotionally than me. I sit here very frustrated with my match today.” His Chatrier practice, described as “absolutely excellent” by fans, showed his hunger to shine at Roland Garros after two first-round exits. “I’m looking forward to going back to Roland-Garros after last year, which was a disappointing one,” he said.
## A Rivalry Rekindled
The duo’s history, with Alcaraz leading 4-2, includes Draper’s 2024 Queen’s upset over the then-champion. A planned offseason training stint in Alicante fell through due to Draper’s hip injury, making their Paris session a reunion of sorts. With Alcaraz eyeing a second French Open title and Draper chasing a deep run, their practice duel hints at a potential quarterfinal clash, thrilling fans as the draw looms.
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