Jack Draper proved his mettle in the face of adversity on Wednesday, 15th January night, battling not only the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis but also a rowdy home crowd during their intense five-set marathon at the Australian Open.
Hostile environment at John Cain Arena
From the moment Draper walked onto John Cain Arena, the British No. 1 was met with a chorus of boos from the predominantly Australian crowd. The atmosphere was charged, with the fans vocally supporting Kokkinakis and making their feelings known from the outset.
However, Draper didn’t let the hostility faze him. Instead, the 23-year-old took the situation in stride, responding with a cheeky display of confidence, even playfully engaging with the crowd throughout the match.
A stunning comeback
Draper’s encounter with Kokkinakis was no easy task. The 15th seed had to dig deep after falling behind 3-5 in the fourth set, with Kokkinakis already holding a two-sets-to-one lead.
Just as it looked like Draper might be on the brink of elimination, he mounted a stunning comeback, winning four straight games to force a decider after Kokkinakis served for the match.
The Brit eventually triumphed, securing a hard-fought 6-7(3) 6-3 3-6 7-5 6-3 victory. After the match, Draper addressed the crowd, acknowledging the challenging environment while also expressing his enjoyment of the moment.
Draper’s response to the boos
In his post-match comments, Draper revealed how much he relished playing in front of a passionate crowd, regardless of their allegiance. “This is what I play for. Since I was a young guy, I wanted to play in front of big crowds, whether you guys were with me or against me,” he said.
While the atmosphere was undoubtedly difficult, Draper had fun with the situation, admitting he played off the crowd’s energy. “It was a tough atmosphere to deal with. You guys were obviously all with Thanasi, but I had a little fun back as well!” Draper chuckled. “It’s so good to be out here, really happy with the amount of support we get here at these big tournaments. It’s unbelievable.”
Having now played two consecutive five-set matches, Draper is preparing for another tough encounter when he faces Aleksandar Vukic in the third round. Vukic upset 22nd seed Sebastian Korda and is expected to offer another stern test for the British No. 1.
Draper, though, remains focused on improving. “Obviously, the first match was four hours, I don’t want to be out here for that long! But I’m getting better each set and I’m really proud of how I’m going,” he said.
Draper also paid tribute to his Australian opponent, Kokkinakis, who struggled physically during the match. Despite enduring discomfort and calling for medical assistance multiple times, Kokkinakis fought valiantly throughout the contest. Draper acknowledged his opponent’s efforts, saying, “Credit to him, I think he was hurting a lot. Obviously, he pulled out last week, had a really long match his first match. Came out here, gave it his all. In the end, he was hurting but it was a great fight today.”
With this victory, Draper has not only gained the admiration of the Australian crowd but also solidified his status as one of the rising stars of the ATP circuit.