'Every time I step onto this court I'm playing for history.'
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.
The French Open said it would also honour its 2000 women's champion Mary Pierce as well as fellow local favourite Richard Gasquet, who will retire after the tournament this year.
IMAGES from the French Open at Roland Garros, in Paris, France, on Wednesday.
IMAGES from the French Open matches played at Roland Garros on Wednesday.
Coco Gauff forgot to bring her rackets to the court but reminded her rivals of her French Open title ambitions with a commanding win while Daniil Medvedev lost his composure on a cold and blustery Tuesday as he crashed out in the opening round.
World number one Jannik Sinner delivered a flawless performance to pulverise Czech Jiri Lehecka in straight sets in little more than 90 minutes on Saturday.
Rafael Nadal teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz for the first time as Spain's so-called dream team opened their Olympic doubles campaign with a 7-6(4), 6-4 defeat of Argentine sixth seeds Maximo Gonzales and Andres Molteni on Saturday.
Jasmine Paolini is the first Italian player to reach the French Open final since doubles partner Sara Errani in 2012.
Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start in his bid to claim a first French Open title
Serbia's Novak Djokovic beat Italy's Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 6-2 to reach his first Olympic final on Friday and will bid for gold in a blockbuster clash with Carlos Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic beat 14-times French Open champion Rafael Nadal in straight sets at the Paris Olympics on Monday.
Alexander Zverev kept his bid for an elusive first Grand Slam title alive by reaching a fourth straight semi-final at the French Open
Italian surprise package Jasmine Paolini staved off a fightback from fourth seed Elena Rybakina to seal a stunning 6-2 4-6 6-4 win
IMAGES from the French Open quarter-finals played in Paris on Tuesday.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka beat Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima 6-2 6-2 under the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Thursday to move into the French Open third round.
Still wearing a compression sleeve after a recent forearm issue, Carlos Alcaraz produced a stellar show in a rematch of the duo's 2022 encounter to firmly put himself back in the conversation as the favourite to lift the title in Paris and a third major.
Images from Day 1 of the French Open 2024 tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, on Sunday
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka was sent crashing out of the French Open after a shock 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 quarter-final loss to Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva
Spain's dream team met its match as Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz's hopes of an Olympic doubles gold medal were ended by American duo Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek on Wednesday.
Alcaraz has been seen as fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal's successor on the Paris clay.
Alcaraz will face German Alexander Zverev or two-time runner-up Casper Ruud of Norway on Sunday.
'I think it only happens in France. At Wimbledon, obviously, there's not that. Or in Australia either. At the US Open, it's still rather quiet. Here, it's a really unhealthy atmosphere.'
Algeria's Imane Khelif, a silver medallist at the 2022 World Championships, and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting have been in the spotlight at the Paris Games amid a gender dispute that has dominated headlines.
Novak Djokovic etched his name into Olympic history, capturing the gold medal in a thrilling victory over Carlos Alcaraz.
Zheng Qinwen became the first Chinese player to win an Olympic tennis singles gold medal when she held off Croatia's Donna Vekic for a 6-2, 6-3 win in a tense final on Saturday.
Images from Day 3 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Tuesday.
Alcaraz grinds down Zverev to win maiden French Open title
Images from the Olympics tennis action at the Roland Garros, Paris, on Wednesday.
Images from Day 7 of the 2024 French Open.
Nadal had previously said this year could be his final one on the tour.
Italy's Matteo Arnaldi produced a sensational performance to take out sixth seed Andrey Rublev and reach the last 16 of the French Open on Friday.
Sabalenka crashed to a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva
Get ready to be wowed by the fashion on (and off) the courts at Roland Garros!
Images from Day 8 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic huffed and puffed but forced his way into the fourth round of the French Open.
Novak Djokovic's parents, wife and children watched him win a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title at the Philippe Chatrier court on Sunday.
Gauff cruises past Zidansek to reach French Open third round
Novak Djokovic said winning a record 23rd men's singles Grand Slam title at the French Open was special given that it was always the toughest one to win for him.
Images from Day 10 of the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Tuesday.
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