Jack Draper admitted his critics were right to question his staying power but was proud to have put those doubts to bed with a third-consecutive five-set win at the Australian Open.
After going the distance against both Mariano Navone and Thanasi Kokkinakis, Draper again came from two sets to one down to see off unseeded Australian Aleksandar Vukic and set up a fourth-round clash with Carlos Alcaraz.
This time he could not be separated from his unheralded but impressive opponent until a deciding tie-break, which he just edged to clinch a 6-4 2-6 5-7 7-6 (5) 7-6 (8) victory at 12.55am.
Three wins. 15 sets. One @jackdraper0. ?
Fighting through to a maiden @AustralianOpen fourth round!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/DoinDcT6vj
— LTA (@the_LTA) January 17, 2025
Draper barely had the energy to celebrate and, having spent more than 12-and-a-half hours on court during his three matches, he must now try to recover for a first grand slam meeting with third seed Alcaraz on Sunday.
Draper has broken down physically in a number of matches, struggling with cramp several times, while he vomited after his first-round match here last year and during the US Open semi-final.
Asked if he had a message for those who have doubted him, the 23-year-old was bluntly honest, saying: “No, not really.
“It’s the truth. I’m done after two sets most of the time. That’s just the way it is and that’s something that I’m aware of and I needed to be better at that.
“I still have a long way to go, but this is a huge drive forward, the fact that I’m mentally and physically (capable) – three five-set matches, it doesn’t happen often. That’s a testament to the work I’ve done and the place I’m in. So I’m very, very proud of that.
Vukic, one of the growing band of male players to come into the professional game through the US college system, is peaking in his late 20s and pulled off one of the best wins of his career in the previous round against Sebastian Korda.
He began extremely well, breaking the Draper serve in the opening game, but the 15th seed pulled himself back into the contest, hitting a winner around the net post in the seventh game and breaking serve twice in a row, the second time with a perfectly-disguised drop shot.
In no time he was 5-0 down in the second set, though, narrowly avoiding a first tour-level ‘bagel’, while the third saw both men hitting form at the same time, particularly on serve, until Draper double-faulted twice in a row from 30-30 at 5-5.
JACK MAGIC ?
Jack Draper goes around the net post! ?@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/u6VCvEz8o1
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2025
He had two chances to force a tie-break but could not take either and, when Vukic sent down an unreturnable serve to bring up set point, Draper’s frustration boiled over and he smashed his racket three times on the ground.
That earned him boos from the crowd, who were generally nowhere near as rowdy as they had been on John Cain Arena, which is open to ground pass holders, for the Kokkinakis contest.
Draper gestured back after Vukic had won the set with an ace but his main source of annoyance was with himself.
Both men had chances in a tight fourth before Draper edged a high-quality tie-break and the British number one thought he had done the hard work with an early break of serve in the decider.
Three matches, three five-set thrillers for Jack Draper ???#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/srmLZHF9mk
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2025
But he missed four chances for a double break, Vukic gained a shot of energy from the crowd and pulled himself back into it. The deciding tie-break could have gone either way but ultimately it was Draper who hauled himself across the line.
“It was just great tennis,” said Draper. “I thought it was done and he just came back from the dead. It was just a great battle. Two competitors going at it. That’s what sport’s about.”
On facing Alcaraz, who he beat at Queen’s Club last summer, Draper said: “I don’t want to think about him yet. Carlos is a special talent and someone I have a good friendship with. Hopefully it will be an unbelievable contest.”
