Jack Draper going to subsequent stage, Emma Raducanu’s kind, Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic in Gigi Salmon’s column

In her newest Sky Sports activities column, Gigi Salmon reveals what occurred when she sat on the airplane subsequent to Jack Draper and the way the British No 1 goes to the subsequent stage, Emma Raducanu’s encouraging kind on clay, Iga Swiatek’s lack of kind and why Novak Djokovic is feeling unsettled.

The principle headlines to come back out of Madrid and Rome did not contain the tennis however an influence lower taking out most of Spain, Portugal and a few of France, whereas throughout Rome mid-match got here the announcement {that a} new Pope had been elected, Pope Leo XIV.

On the courtroom we have now been left scratching our heads over gamers we anticipated to ease their manner by to the French Open – which begins on Sunday – falter repeatedly, which means that for the primary time shortly selecting a winner from each the lads’s and girls’s attracts is not that easy.

Draper going to subsequent stage

Again to Madrid and Rome, and let’s begin with the Brits and British No 1 Jack Draper, who in solely his seventh Masters clay-court occasion and, utilizing the altitude to his benefit, made it to the ultimate in Madrid after which a primary quarter-final in Rome, the place he would fall to Carlos Alcaraz.

Jack’s 12 months continues to go from power to power, bodily and mentally he’s taking himself to the subsequent stage, a spot the place he is aware of there will likely be extra expectations positioned on him, extra eyes on him and it is one thing that he’s properly conscious will take time to regulate to.

He has spoken of ‘greatness being in consistency,’ one thing he’s build up and, after a profitable run of eight wins and simply two defeats throughout the 2 occasions, which has taken him to world No 5, simply 15 factors behind fourth-placed Taylor Fritz, there will likely be an expectation on him in Paris and wherever he goes from right here.

The hazards of social media

Sat on the airplane subsequent to Jack, again from Madrid, it was attention-grabbing getting his ideas on social media, each the ability and hazard of it, particularly as a mum to 2 boys who discover themselves more and more drawn to it.

He desires to, and the ability lower in Madrid gave him a style for it, pull again from social media, which, whereas I really feel a whole lot of us may gain advantage from, is less complicated mentioned than accomplished – particularly once you’re 23 and temptation and distraction lie round each nook.

Encouraging indicators for Raducanu

Emma Raducanu has had an encouraging few weeks, constructing on the run to the quarter-finals in Miami, she is discovering her footing on the clay, and as I write this, is entered into Strasbourg.

Having accepted a late wildcard, Emma obtained off to an important begin with a win over Daria Kasatkina, saying afterwards: “As I spend more time on clay, I’m beginning to like it more and more. I’m building my relationship with the surface.”

She additionally appears to be discovering what works for her on and off courtroom, with Jane O’Donoghue and Mark Petchey by her facet and a pre-match kickaround turning into an vital a part of her preparations, and likewise that have to separate herself from tennis, getting out to discover her environment and immersing herself in one thing apart from tennis.

Congratulations go to Katie Boulter, who, after an early exit in Rome, entered a WTA 125 in Paris and was topped champion, with 5 wins and a three-set closing towards Chloe Paquet. She takes away from it a very good quantity of factors and, extra importantly, time and confidence on a floor that may have a thoughts of its personal.

What’s up with Swiatek?

For the previous few years presently of 12 months, the discussions across the ladies’s draw have been, ‘Iga Swiatek is the favorite, who can get near her on the clay.’

This 12 months it is extra ‘what’s up with Iga,’ after a season which by most individuals’s requirements would have been an important one, 27 wins in 2025 from 36 matches performed, reaching 4 semi-finals, 5 in the event you embrace the United Cup. She is a four-time French Open Champion, a three-time defending champion, however for the primary time since 2020, she arrives in Paris with no title to begin the 12 months and likewise missing confidence.

She has spoken of technical ‘tweaks’ that she has been making, there was private loss with the dying of her grandfather and a few marvel if her one-month ban for failing a doping take a look at on the finish of final 12 months nonetheless hovers over her. I additionally return to when she spoke to us in Miami, after which when the cameras stopped, she carried on the dialog with me, talking in regards to the intense stage of strain and scrutiny she feels from the media in Poland.

It is loads for a 23-year-old now down to 5 on this planet to take care of, however in preparation for Paris, Iga arrived early. She hasn’t misplaced at Roland Garros since 2021 – that is 21 consecutive wins and she’s going to have a good time her twenty fourth birthday there on the finish of month, so she will likely be hoping the familiarity she feels there and the additional time within the build-up will result in continued success on the Parisian clay.

Why is Djokovic feeling unsettled?

I will likely be breaking down the French Open draw later within the week as soon as it is made and we all know what’s what, wanting on the contenders and the British hopefuls, however yet one more participant to say going into this week is Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic this week is competing on the ATP 250 occasion in Geneva in seek for some kind and for Tour title No 100, he’s doing it with no coach after the information broke throughout Rome, a event he did not play for the primary time since 2007, that he had parted methods with coach Andy Murray.

Not a shock to many with Djokovic struggling for kind and after shocking many with an expletive-filled rant throughout a coaching session alongside Murray in Madrid, the place he spoke of hating tennis and all the things, he would go on to lose to Matteo Arnaldi within the first spherical.

Djokovic appears unsettled. Is it purely on courtroom? Are issues taking place off courtroom? Solely he is aware of, however Grand Slam quantity 25 appears to be shifting additional away from him, and with Jannik Sinner again on tour and looking out like he hasn’t been away, the subsequent few weeks taking us by to Wimbledon are going to be very attention-grabbing.

The tennis will proceed on Sky Sports activities Tennis as we hold you proper updated with the excursions, and as soon as I’ve obtained spherical to unpacking from Rome and re-packing for Paris, I’ll break down the French Open as we begin to marvel who will come out on high at Roland-Garros!

Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions, in addition to the US Open in New York, dwell on Sky Sports activities in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this 12 months at no additional value. Discover out extra right here.