Weeks 3 & 4 - Australian Open - Melbourne, VIC, Australia (hard)

Elegant Point · Satellite level

RE: Weeks 3 & 4 - Australian Open - Melbourne, VIC, Australia (hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

And so it comes to pass at 6-6 ...

... a MTB ( just in case anyone has forgotten that it's not a normal TB ) to decide it.

Neil Gee · Club Coach

So it comes down to another tie break after all that.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Phew! My nerves are in shreds & I'm surprised I have any nails left!

L32: (15) Jack Draper WR 18 defeated Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) WR 68 by 6-4 2-6 5-7 7-6(5) 7-6(10-8) (three hours & 58 minutes)

Top man!

*****

I doubt he'll have sufficient left in his tank to put up much of a fight in this one:

L16: (15) Jack Draper WR 18 vs (3) Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) WR 3 (CH = 1 in September 2022)

indiana · Tennis legend

YES, YES, YES

Jan · Hall of fame

I didn't go out....How could I?
But I must now!!!!
Amazing Jack, no other words.

Neil Gee · Club Coach

Good job they dont still play until somebody gets 2 games clear. That could have gone on all night. Well done Jack

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

This was an absolutely exceptional match! I hope that Eurosport or some other TV co put together a highlights reel of at least 20 mins. The quality of hitting was extraordinary.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I just hope he has enough left in the tank so that he's competitive against Carlos. He reminds me of Andy - can't get it done quickly!

-- Edited by Helen40 on Friday 17th of January 2025 02:23:03 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Well, I had to do some work meetings and missed the back end of the match, phew, that was some result.

Well done Jack!

Anyone know where we can find highlights to watch - I dont have Eurosport or Discovery or whatever it is these days so hoping somewhere has a 5 or 10 mins highlights package?!

Tanaqui · Club Coach

Well done, Jack! Love the fighting spirit. (Even if I worry about the number sets/time he's played.)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I must be the only one but I didn't think Jack deserved that match or was playing that well - SO defensive (except for his serve, which is not the same thing) - scuttling around, lifting the ball, using top spin nicely but barely ever really stepping into it and flattening it out - the play was all on the racket of Vukic - the commentators were right in saying Vukic was the clear aggressor and Jack was pretty reactive, not proactive

But wonderful for him to get the win, of course. And into the second week.

Jajon · Club Coach

Obviously going 3 five set matches in a row is not ideal, but the fact he physically managed it without dying/throwing up etc is probably very good news for the future!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Tanaqui wrote:
Well done, Jack! Love the fighting spirit. (Even if I worry about the number sets/time he's played.)

Quote from the Beeb's live text commentary:

Jack Draper has spent a whopping 12 hours and 34 minutes on court in Melbourne so far this week. Carlos Alcaraz, who[m] he faces next, has only notched up five-and-a-half hours. Draper's physio is going to have their (*) work cut out for them (*).

His physio is Will Herbert, so why the "their/them" & not "his/him"?!!

Quotes from Jack himself:

Jack Draper speaking on court following his five-set third round win: "Firstly, Alex played incredible. It was an unbelievably tough match. Both of us have played a lot of sets in our first couple of rounds so I knew it was going to be a really tough match. There were so many ebbs and flows. It was just great tennis. I always appreciate you guys staying out so late for us. It was a great match"

On leading 3-1 in the fifth set and being unable to capitalise on that: "I thought it was done and he just came back from the dead. He was playing incredibly. I think we are suffering a lot in the five sets and sometimes you get a little energy boost. It was just a great battle with two competitors going at it. That's what sport is all about so it was good."

On playing out three consecutive five-setters after recovering from a hip injury: "My body doesn't feel too great. Luckily I have a good physio! I think mentally I have really competed hard. I have loved the atmosphere and playing in front of loads of people. It's given me a lot of energy to keep pushing, so I'm surprising myself."

On facing Carlos Alcaraz next: "I'm just thinking about my recovery and getting off the court to be honest. I don't want to think about him yet. Carlos is a special talent, an unbelieve [sic (*)] player and someone I have a good relationship with. I think it's going to be an incredible match and hopefully my body pulls up and I can give it my all. It will be a great contest."

(*) Not sure whether Jack actually said that or the BBC journo couldn't type properly with all the excitement! wink

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I like this passage from the Mail

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?

For Vukic, this day was that day. And still, somehow, it was not enough.