Jack Draper wins gruelling five-set battle with hometown favourite Aleksandar Vukic to confirm fourth-round spot in Australian Open and meeting with Carlos Alcaraz
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Jack Draper will face Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round of the Australian Open after surviving a whirlwind performance from home favourite Aleksander Vukic. For the second time in three days Draper trailed an Australian by two sets to one in a hostile arena baying for British blood. His win against Thanasi Kokkinakis, with an ear cupped to the heckling crowd, was spectacular enough but this was something else.
![[The British No1 battled back against his Australian opponent a number of times on Friday]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/13/94211957-0-image-a-26_1737122268008.jpg)
There was a shattered racket and a dropped catch in the deep and, in the end, a 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 win. There was an avalanche of winners from Vukic and the wagging finger of Draper, reminding the crowd that he was still here. Vukic played the match of his life, making an utter mockery of his ranking as the 68th best player in the world. Tennis is like that; there are players who can spend years on the pro tour making a good living, reaching the odd quarter-final at a minor event and occasionally winning a round or two at a Slam. But slumbering within them is a perfect performance and they wake up every day and think, ‘Perhaps this is the day?’.
![[Aleksandar Vukic at times had the match within his grasp but Draper's fighting spirit won out]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/14/94212105-14296703-image-a-44_1737122652382.jpg)
For Vukic, this day was that day. And still, somehow, it was not enough. Both players came in having played two five-set matches. Vukic’s were both brisk, however, so Draper came in having spent exactly two hours longer on court than his opponent. Jack Draper has booked his spot in the fourth round of the Australian Open with another five-set thriller.
![[Hometown favourite Vukic was playing far above his level in the second and third sets]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/14/94212123-14296703-image-a-45_1737122659808.jpg)
