Tim Henman tells Jack Draper’s coaching team they need to do something ‘very important’ after his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz

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Jack Draper was looking to score his second consecutive win against the world number three.

The British star had already played Carlos Alcaraz twice in 2025, with the year’s head-to-head level at one apiece.

Alcaraz led Draper 7-5, 6-1, at the Australian Open when the 23-year-old was forced to retire due to injury.

Getting his revenge in California, Draper took down Alcaraz in a thrilling three-set battle, 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, to advance to his maiden Masters 1000 final at Indian Wells.

Falling short in his bid to win back-to-back matches against the Spaniard, Draper lost to Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open, 4-6, 4-6.

After the match, Draper’s fellow Brit, Tim Henman, explained what his team must do now after his latest defeat.

Tim Henman says it’s ‘very important’ for Jack Draper’s team to remind him of his progress on clay

Speaking to Sky Sports following Draper’s defeat to Alcaraz, Henman shared what he thinks the world number five’s team should be reminding him of.

“This is where it’s very important for the team around him, led by James Trotman to just be able to take a step back and say, let’s not forget you were playing the French Open champion,” said Henman.

“Probably the most naturally gifted clay court player in the game right now, you were up 4-2 in the first set, and you’re frustrated that you lost the match.

“That’s where you have to be able to reflect on the improvements that he’s made, not only in the clay court season but this year as a whole.

“It’s very exciting, he’s still learning, he’s so inexperienced on clay, we’ve seen that his game adapts so well to clay.”

Henman suggested what Draper should do before the French Open begins later this month.

“He’s had such a busy schedule coming from Madrid, just 24 hours at home coming into Rome, playing some really good tennis,” said Henman.

“It’s important that he recharges the batteries so he’s fresh going into Roland Garros.”

The 50-year-old said how impressed he’s been with Draper’s improvements over the last 12 months.

“He’s learning to manage in all areas of his life, we saw in New York, the emotion, the anxiety with the vomiting, he’s made huge strides there,” he said.

“Dealing with the demands of the tour, the schedule when you’re travelling and you’re playing day in and day out because you’re winning matches.

“Making sure you’re not wasting physical and emotional energy so that you can perform against the very best players in the world, that’s what is exciting, but also important to reflect on that he’s only just starting.”

With those improvements in mind, Henman rated Draper’s chances at this year’s French Open.

“This time last year he was injured, his body was breaking down, there were big question marks, now we’re talking about a player that’s in the top five of the world, going into Roland Garros as not the favorite, but one of the favorites,” said Henman.

Is Jack Draper one of the ‘favorites’ for the French Open title?

Draper will remarkably head to Roland Garros as one of the pre-tournament favorites, despite never winning a match in Paris before.

On both of his two previous visits to the French capital, Draper lost in the first round, to Tomas Martin Etcheverry in 2023 and Jesper De Jong in 2024.

He has, however, scored more wins at clay Masters 1000 tournaments in 2025 than the majority of his ATP rivals, further highlighting his French Open title-winning credentials.

Draper is tied for third with Alcaraz in clay Masters 1000 victories this year, on nine.

The two notable absentees from this list, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, could of course still make their presence felt at the French Open despite winning fewer matches than the likes of Lorenzo Musetti and Casper Ruud.

Sinner was suspended for the first two Masters 1000 events on clay, and has already shown his class since returning, winning his opening three matches in Rome without dropping a set.

Djokovic went 0-2 in clay Masters tournaments this year, but will still be one to watch out for in Paris, should he rediscover the form that saw him win the title just two years ago.

The fact Draper is being considered a favorite alongside the names mentioned is credit to the work he and his team have put in this year on clay.

Whether or not he comes away with the title at Roland Garros next month remains to be seen, but with the level he’s shown on the surface this year, it wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

Draper will return to action when the French Open begins on Sunday, May 25.