For the second time in as many rounds, Jack Draper found himself on the brink of a desperate, early defeat, his difficult preparation during the off-season laid bare. He had been dragged around the court for three and a half hours, comprehensively outplayed by an opponent determined to eviscerate every last ball.
Leading two sets to one, Thanasi Kokkinakis stood at the baseline to serve for a place in the third round of the Australian Open for the first time in his career. Somehow, once again, the British No 1 again found a way through by offering yet another exhibition of his combativeness and heart.
In a four hour, 35 minute psychodrama, the longest match of his career, Draper recovered to win his second consecutive five-set match with an unforgettable 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Kokkinakis around midnight in Melbourne.
Draper, the 15th seed, is joined in the third round by his old friend Jacob Fearnley, who continued his spectacular breakout run in his first grand slam tournament as a direct entrant. Fearnley recovered from a set down to reach the third round with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win over Arthur Cazaux of France.
Two days on from his tremendous win over Nick Kyrgios on John Cain Arena, Fearnley returned to the smaller surrounds of court six. Fearnley initially trailed 1-5 in the opening set before gradually working himself into the match then breezing through the final three sets.
