Australian Open 2025: Jack Draper knocks out Thanasi Kokkinakis in five-set thriller
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15th seed Jack Draper is into the third round of the Australian Open for the first time after defeating crowd favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis in a five-set epic.
Kokkinakis served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set, but Draper staged an incredible comeback to beat the Australian 6-7(3), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in four hours and 36 minutes.
Draper – who came into Melbourne nursing a hip injury – showed great spirit to win his second five-set contest of the tournament so far, this time against an in-form Kokkinakis in front of the Australian fans on the John Cain Arena.
The 2024 US Open semi-finalist moves on to the third round where he will play another Australian in Aleksandar Vukic, who knocked out 22nd seed Sebastian Korda in five sets as well.
“It was a tough match, Thanasi is an unbelievable player, someone I have great respect for," Draper said. "Every time I play him he brings his best tennis, especially here in Australia, he’s so dangerous so really proud of the way I competed today – I eventually came through and I’m really happy about that.
“I didn’t play for a few weeks in the off-season. I was on the sidelines not really playing so I didn’t know if I was fit to come here. My tennis is improving and this match would’ve helped me again.
“This is what I’ve played for since I was a young guy, I want to play in front of big crowds whether you guys are with me or against me. I’m really happy with the amount of support you get here at the big tournaments – it’s unbelievable.”
The British No.1 came through in five sets in the opening round and this match had early signs that it could go the distance as well. Both players served well through the first set with just one break point between them and Kokkinakis missing just three first serves.
The noise levels rising amongst the crowd in the tie-break, Draper had to wait for the fans to quieten down on a crucial service point at 3-2 before hitting a double fault – which ultimately proved the difference.
Draper showed his character on multiple occasions in the match. He broke early in the second and even when Kokkinakis managed to level back at 3-3, Draper found a way to break straight back and silence the crowd having served out the set.
With the scores levelled at one apiece, Kokkinakis called for the trainer early in the third for treatment on his shoulder, but it didn’t appear to affect the world No.71 throughout the rest of the match.
After some treatment on his shoulder, the Aussie managed a hold on a pivotal game in the match saving break points in a eight-deuce game to move 4-3 in front and then won the set with his best three game stretch in the clash.
It looked all but finished as Kokkinakis served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth but nerves and fatigue started to sink in. Draper capitalised and broke to love, then saved a break point before seeing out the set on Kokkinakis’s serve with four straight games to force a decider.
Kokkinakis would have been having flashbacks to another five-set loss against a Brit back in 2023 against Andy Murray. Draper seemed to have more in the tank, while Kokkinakis’s shoulder continued to give him problems.
The pair battled on into the late stages of the set, but it became more and more evident that Draper had the upper hand. Leading 4-3 and with a second break point, the British star forced what would prove to be a match-defining error from Kokkinakis at the net to move one game away from an historic win.
Having survived Kokkinakis serving for the match just one set before, the world No.15 made no mistake in finishing the job and like his idol Murray before him, completed a comeback victory over the Australian in five.
When is Jack Draper playing next?
Jack Draper and Aleksandar Vukic are scheduled to play their third round match on Friday 17 January - timings BC.
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