French Open 2025: John McEnroe feels Jack Draper must overcome mental battle to win Grand Slams - 'Looked like nerves got to Jack'

Jack Draper crashed out of the French Open at the hands of Alexander Bublik. After taking the first set, Draper was overwhelmed by an inspired opponent - and John McEnroe said it looked like Draper was struggling to figure out the mental puzzle that Bublik was posing in Paris on Monday. Watch and stream the 2025 French Open live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Highlights: Bublik battles back to beat Draper to reach quarter-finals

Video credit: TNT Sports

John McEnroe has told TNT Sports that Jack Draper needs to "handle those emotions" if he is to fulfil his potential and win Grand Slams.

After reaching the semi-finals of the US Open last year, Draper took his career forward in the first half of 2025 with victory at Indian Wells.

His consistent run of form lifted him to No. 5 in the world for the French Open, but he did not live up to his ranking as he crashed out in the round of 16 to Alexander Bublik.

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Draper has previously spoken about having to battle with anxiety, and McEnroe felt the Brit was under stress against Bublik.

"It looked like the nerves got to Jack," McEnroe said in the TNT Sports studio. "It looked like Jack was stressing. He has been working on that.

"To me, that is going to be a factor in whether he wins multiple majors or not, to be able to handle those emotions.

"He was playing well, to me, and I was surprised that he was that stressed out."

‘You see how good he can be’ - McEnroe impressed with Bublik

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Tim Henman suggested on TNT Sports that Draper looked exhausted, but Mats Wilander felt it could have been mental fatigue.

"Exhausted from stress maybe," seven-time major winner Wilander said. "Physically there should not be a reason why he is exhausted, so it must be stress."

McEnroe felt Draper was the favourite against Bublik, and hopes the Kazakh has turned a corner in his career.

"I thought Draper would win for sure, as I was not sure if Bublik could stick with it mentally for long enough," McEnroe said.

As a coach at the Laver Cup, McEnroe revealed he did not select Bublik as he could not be sure if he would deliver.

"There was discussion about Bublik as he has talent and his ranking was high, he could also play doubles which was important in Laver Cup," McEnroe said.

"But I was not going to pick him as he did not give the all-out effort. I have more respect for players who say it is better to try and fail than not try at all.

"It seems like maybe he’s getting it, or fortune favours the crazy. I don’t know. You look at him, he should be in the top 15 in the world."

‘Best moment of my life’ - Bublik revels in win over Draper at French Open

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McEnroe is unsure if Bublik has the capacity to dedicate himself in the way Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have picked up the baton from Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

"The discipline it takes, Novak has taken it to another level, Nadal, now Sinner and Alcaraz," McEnroe added. "They are like machines out there.

"[Bublik] is more human in a way. I can relate to the frustration of having to put in 110% every day. What I could not relate to is not giving 100% on the court, and you are going to tank.

"Tank in tennis is you are not trying, and too often I’ve seen that from Bublik."

Bublik will face off against Sinner in the quarter-finals of the French Open on Wednesday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Draper: I still have lots to learn

Draper will head to the grass courts on the up, but feels he is a couple of years behind Sinner and Alcaraz.

"I still think I'm a long way behind those boys," Draper said. "I still have lots to learn.

"If you look at probably the ATP matches, how many matches they've played, they've probably played double the amount that I've played.

"They're probably a year, two years ahead of me and obviously achieved a lot more, a lot more experience.

‘I played high risk’ - Bublik reflects on win over Draper at French Open

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I do have a lot to do to catch up with them, in all honesty. My level is getting better all the time, but it's not just the tennis. It's the maturity, the consistency of what they're doing.

"Even though I've been more consistent, it's doing it when it matters, and these are the tournaments that it matters.

"Yeah, I have a lot to go still to get to them, and I think that I'm working hard, I'm doing the right things, and we'll see."

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Stream the 2025 French Open live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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