Draper stops home favourite Monfils in late night stunner

Britain's fifth seed Jack Draper fought off inspired home favourite Gael Monfils to claim a 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory and reach the third round of the French Open on a raucous Court Philippe Chatrier on Thursday.

Riding a wave of partisan support, 38-year-old showman Monfils produced some dazzling tennis to win the second set and level the match and despite losing the third, looked on course to set up a decider as the crowd went wild.

The free-swinging Monfils broke Draper's serve in the fourth set as the clock moved past 11pm local time and saved five break points in an epic seventh game to move 5-2 ahead.

Battling fatigue and struggling to move between points, Monfils still had two set points on the Draper serve at 5-4 but his 23-year-old opponent stayed ice cool to fend them off.

Draper then moved 6-5 ahead with another service break and duly finished an absorbing contest at the first time of asking before warmly embracing Monfils at the net.