Jack Draper is fresh and ready to win his first ever match at the French Open as the world No.5. "I think there's a good chance I can do really well," he said. Thursday's draw saw the enticing prospect of the British No.1 facing world No.1 Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals.

But the Indian Wells champion, who reached the final on clay in Madrid, has lost both his singles matches at Roland Garros.

Draper said he hated "being the guy who's injured a lot" and felt "mentally destroyed" after a shoulder injury forced him retire in the opening round on his debut in 2023. And last year he lost in five sets to Dutch world No.176 Jesper de Jong as all six British singles players lost in the first round.

But after taking a break following reaching the Rome quarter-finals, the No.5 is full of confidence for the claycourt Grand Slam.

"I don't really put into account the fact that I haven't won a match here because the first year I played, the day before the tournament I ruptured my muscle in my shoulder," said Draper. "I came out and couldn't serve. My first round I had to pull out in the first set.

"Last year, I was going through changes. I was trying to be a completely different player from what I knew. Obviously was going through some changes, brought (coach) Wayne (Ferreira) onto my team, was trying new things. I was trying to be more aggressive, probably going too far that way. Was just very lost in my tennis.

"I still was able to make it a five-setter against someone who is ranked a hundred. I think about one year ago now, and I think: 'Wow, like how much I've learnt through experience', but also the fact that probably then I didn't really understand my DNA as a tennis player, what I was trying to do on the court.

"So when I've played here in the past, I don't feel like I've entered the court with any confidence or any belief that I could do pretty well.

"It's like I've been here but I haven't. I'm looking forward to coming here and feeling like I am confident. I just take every match that comes. That's always my mentality. I'm never looking ahead too far. I'm going to work hard for each point and see how it goes.

"But I think with the way I'm playing, the fact that I've really improved a lot recently and my ranking is going up and I feel confident, I think there's a good chance I can do really well. I'm looking forward to that challenge.

"Very proud of the way I've come in the last 12 months. I think that's a testament to the hard work I've done, the people I've got around me.

"It's weird, I never won a match here, but I come here and feel good about my tennis, for sure."

Draper looked exhausted as he lost in three sets to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in the Italian capital but looked refresh in the French capital today.

"I went home for a few days, just had a bit of family time, had a bit of time to myself," he said. "Obviously I still made the quarters in Rome, had a decent week. Definitely my level was very in and out due to the fact it was very difficult for someone I think to be on for about five weeks on the trot, with Madrid, preparing for Madrid, then going straight into Rome with no rest. Especially playing at this level, it's not easy.

"So going home really helped me to sort of refresh. Obviously I was looking forward to coming here. I'm in a good spot. I feel fresh coming into this tournament. I feel really confident, I feel strong, and I feel like I'm in a really good place. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens over the next couple of weeks."