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1 week ago

Australian Open LIVE: Jack Draper wins five-set thriller as Jacob Fearnley also through

Jack Draper and Jacob Fearnley are through to the third round on a dramatic day at the Australian Open

Jamie Braidwood
Wednesday 15 January 2025 16:49 GMT
Novak Djokovic practices for Australian Open 2025 with Andy Murray as coach

The Australian Open continues as Jack Draper came from behind to beat home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis in a five-set epic, joining Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in the third round.

British No 1 Draper silenced the home crowd as he performed a stunning escape to beat Kokkinakis in the longest match of the tournament so far. The Australian served for a place in the third round at the end of the fourth set but Draper stayed alive, winning 6-7 6-3 3-6 7-5 6-3 against a raucous crowd in the longest match of the 23-year-old’s career.

Meanwhile, Fearnley reached the third round on his Australian Open debut with a comeback victory over Arthur Cazaux. Fearnley dropped the first set after a rain delay but the Scot did not blink and came back to win 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-3. His astonishing rise will continue when he plays the second seed Alexander Zverev for a place in the last-16.

Jodie Burrage gave World No 3 Coco Gauff a brief scare on Rod Laver Arena but fell to a straight-sets defeat. Burrage served to level the match but Gauff recovered to win the final four games of a 6-3 7-5 win.

Harriet Dart is also out after threatening an upset against Olympics runner-up and 18th seed Donna Vekic. Dart won the opening set but managed just two more games, as Vekic came from behind to win 4-6 6-0 6-2.

Follow all the latest action from Melbourne Park below:

1 week ago

Australian Open: Jacob Fearnley 3-6 4-3 Arthur Cazaux*

There’s a very noisy section of French fans out on Court Six who are making quite the racket in support of their man Arthur Cazaux.

Jacob Fearnley is battling hard, though. He comes back from a break down at the start of the second set to level at 3-3.

He even had chances to break ahead but Cazaux found a stunning pass to save and then hold, much to the delight of his fans.

It’s finely poised.

(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 10:07
1 week ago

Australian Open: SET! Jack Draper 6-7 6-3 Thanasi Kokkinakis

Here we go! Jack is back as Draper holds his serve to level the match at a set-all. The British No 1 passes a big test by getting back on level terms, and he has managed to quiten the crowd after Kokkinakis had the John Cain Arena rocking in the first hour or so.

Solid from Draper. From 3-3 in the second, he wins three games in a row to win the set.

The story, though, is that Kokkinakis went completely off the boil. The Aussie’s serve disappeared (his first serve falling from above 90 per cent to the mid-60s) and it made such a difference. Without being able to dictate, his winners fell to 10 and the unforced errors climbed to 13.

Draper was pretty similar to the first set. Consistency is key.

(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 10:03
1 week ago

Australian Open: *Jack Draper 6-7 5-3 Thanasi Kokkinakis

Break! Jack Draper pumps his fist and Kokkinakis shrugs at the latest twist in this second set. Draper breaks but that was all on Kokkinakis’ racket. The Australian came into the net but Draper fired the backhand straight at him as the Australian dumped the volley into the net.

Draper now has the chance to serve for the set.

Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 10:01
1 week ago

Australian Open: Coco Gauff 6-3 7-5 Jodie Burrage

Coco Gauff with a lot of praise for Jodie Burrage after reaching the third round of the Australian Open.

“It was tough, she was serving really well, I was trying to manage that honestly. She really stepped her level up midway through the second set, so I was trying to be offensive when I could.

“She was returning well and putting pressure on my serve, if I put anything short she was hitting a winner. I told myself to keep playing deep and on the offensive.”

(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 09:58
1 week ago

Australian Open: Jack Draper 6-7 4-3 Thanasi Kokkinakis*

On the John Cain Arena, it’s almost as if we’re back where we were in the opening set. Thanasi Kokkinakis has found his fire after going 0-3 down, and Jack Draper will have to raise it again after letting the Australian off the hook,

Draper fires down two aces to get a hold. At least he is serving first in this second set, which could be key down the line if we’re getting closer to a tiebreak.

Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 09:56
1 week ago

Australian Open: Coco Gauff 6-3 7-5 Jodie Burrage

GAME, SET AND MATCH!

Coco Gauff is through! The World No 3 defeats Jodie Burrage in straight-sets, but it was a great fight from the Briton - who missed almost all of last season due to injury.

There will be some regrets. Burrage had chances in the second set and led 5-3 with the chance to serve for a deciding set.

Gauff was struggling but errors from Burrage gave her the chance to fight on, and Gauff won the last four games in a row to squeak through.

“It was tough,” Gauff says. Burrage heads off court but will take a lot of heart from her showing on Rod Laver Arena.

(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 09:48
1 week ago

Australian Open: Jack Draper 6-7 3-2 Thanasi Kokkinakis*

Break! Kokkinakis comes alive again and produces a backhand winner past the advancing Draper to break back in the second set.

Stunning winner from Kokkinakis, but Draper could not keep the door closed after saving break point in the previous game.

Back on serve in the second.

Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 09:46
1 week ago

Australian Open: *Coco Gauff 6-3 6-5 Jodie Burrage

Break! Ah, that’s nightmare stuff from Jodie Burrage, who makes back-to-back double faults on deuce, 5-5, handing Coco Gauff the break and the chance to serve for the match.

Gauff put herself in a great position with a defensive stand behind her backhand, turning defence into attack to fire the forehand past Burrage.

But the Briton has handed Gauff a gift with those double double faults and the American needs just one more game to reach the third round.

Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 09:44
1 week ago

Australian Open: SET! Jacob Fearnley 3-6 Arthur Cazaux

Jacob Fearnley can’t stop Arthur Cazaux from taking the opening set, as the Frenchman eventually converts the early break that came about three hours ago and before the rain delay.

A chance to reset for Fearnley, though, now the disruption is hopefully over.

Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 09:42
1 week ago

Australian Open: Coco Gauff 6-3 5-5 Jodie Burrage*

Gauff is looking very shaky right now on the Rod Laver Arena and the confidence has drained from her forehand and serve.

But she squeezes through to level the second set at 5-5, despite Burrage having a very good look at a forehand pass on 30-30.

That would have given her set point but Burrage could not find the winner and instead Gauff gets back on serve.

Jamie Braidwood15 January 2025 09:38

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