Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters Preview
The Brit and the American have had a somewhat similar last month. Each made a great run in Indian Wells—Draper to the title, Giron to the fourth round. And each paid the price in Miami, where they lost close opening-round matches. Now they’ll meet up on a different continent and a different surface. The 45th-ranked Giron already has a solid win under his belt in Monte Carlo, over Denis Shapovalov.
That said, Draper will be the favorite. He’s ranked 39 spots higher than Giron, and at 23, is eight years younger. He also leads the head-to-head 2-0, and has more firepower all around, especially with his serve.
Still, a blowout would be a surprise. Both of their previous encounters went the distance—including a five-setter at the Australian Open in 2024. And while Giron grew up on hard courts, his labor-intensive baseline game is likely a better fit for clay than Draper’s strike-first style. Either way, Draper won’t want to suffer a second-straight first-round loss after his Indian Wells breakthrough. Winner: Draper
