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Australian Open: Jack Draper wants home fans to bring more noise ahead of Aleksandar Vukic clash | Tennis News
Jack Draper says the hostile crowd at the Australian Open gave him energy and wants the fans to bring more noise for his third-round clash against Aleksandar Vukic on Friday.
During Draper’s 6-7 (7-3) 6-3 3-6 7-5 6-3 victory over home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis, the Australian fans were whistling or shouting to distract the British No 1 in what he described as some of the worst “abuse” he has received.
However, the British No 1 is drawing confidence from having come through back-to-back four-hour matches and is hoping to replicate his success against Vukic.
“It was amazing, an electric atmosphere. Obviously getting quite a lot of abuse from the crowd in between the serves,” Draper said following his second-round victory.
“I think sometimes you don’t want to rile them or give it back. But to be fair, it gave me energy doing that.
“There were times where I was down, then I come through a tough game and I was feeling it a little bit. It gave me energy giving it back a little bit, it’s just a bit of fun.
“They are saying stuff to me. It’s nice to sort of just give it a bit of an ear. They were whistling and talking in between serves. It’s all fun but when you’re about to serve, it’s really difficult. But I have thick skin.”
Draper advanced to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time in his career following a five-set thriller against Thanasi Kokkinakis
When Draper was asked if it was the worst abuse he had experienced he agreed but also noted that it was the “best atmosphere” he has been a part of.
Last year, the 23-year-old won two ATP titles and reached the US Open semi-finals and is now eyeing success in Masters 1000 events and Grand Slams in 2025.
“I’ve been working physically a lot for a long time,” Draper added. “When people say, ‘oh you’re not fit enough’, it’s part of it.
“As a young player, when you come into these big events and you have to deal with the media and the crowds, you’re playing tournaments you’ve dreamed of playing since you were young and you are expected to do well, it was a bit too much for me at the start.
“I feel like, especially at the back end of last year, I built a lot of confidence in myself, a lot of belief.
“I think winning the titles and making the semis of the US just gave me that security in my mind that I’m good enough and that I’m doing the right things.
“It has given me a calmness as well. Instead of carrying a lot on my shoulders, I feel more relaxed.”
Draper proud of ‘special talent’ Fearnley’
Draper is joined in the third round by fellow Briton Jacob Fearnley, who ignored the crowd during his first-round win over Australian Nick Kyrgios.
Fearnley defeated France’s Arthur Cazaux 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-3 and broke more new ground to set up a third-round clash with second seed Alexander Zverev.
“I’m proud of Jacob, he’s an incredible player,” Draper added.
“He’s always been a special talent. Obviously I’m good friends with him but we’re going to be competing against each other with the No 1 Brit situation. I think it’s great for British tennis and we’re lucky to have him.”
Fearnley admitted to feeling nervous ahead of his clash against Zverev but is hoping to take it in his stride.
“It’s another massive match. I assume it will be on a big court. He’s playing unbelievably. I’m aware that all these matches that I’m getting are extremely challenging,” Fearnley said.
“I do get nervous but I know how lucky I am to have these experiences and play these matches.
“These matches don’t come around often. I’m trying to cherish them and stay in the present moment really and just try and enjoy these massive matches because they are some of the biggest that I can play.
“To be in the third round with Jack is really special. I’ve known him since we were very young and to be in this tournament together in the third round is awesome.
“Obviously we do our own thing and we’re trying to get as far as we can.”
Draper is set to face home favourite Aleksandar Vukic in the third round of the Australian Open
‘Kokkinakis must be sick of the sight of the Brits‘
Sky Sports’ Jonathan Overend:
“Two five-setters at the start of a Grand Slam – what an effort! And actually, some of his best tennis was in that final set of the match.
“Admittedly, Kokkinakis was feeling the heat, feeling the pain and not anywhere near able to serve near his best, but I thought Draper played an incredibly mature fifth set. Really engaging his brain and playing sensibly.
“Never easy when you’re having to put away a stricken opponent and we’ve seen people in the past struggle to deal with that sort of situation, but not Draper.
“He always looked in control, had a slightly sticky moment mid-way through the set, but dealt with it so impressively. From that moment there was only realistically one winner and what a shot to close it out.
“Who doesn’t love a thunderbolt forehand winner to win a match at a Grand Slam? Brilliant from Draper. Easier matches lie ahead. Kokkinakis must be sick of the sight of the Brits after his thriller with Andy Murray a couple of years ago.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app.
Jack Draper, the rising star of British tennis, is ready to take on Aleksandar Vukic in the Australian Open and he’s calling on the home fans to bring more noise to support him.Draper, who is known for his powerful serve and aggressive playing style, is hoping to make a big impact at this year’s tournament and is eager to feed off the energy of the crowd.
In a recent interview, Draper expressed his excitement about playing in front of the Australian fans and said, “I love playing in front of a passionate crowd. It really fires me up and helps me play my best tennis. I’m hoping the fans will bring even more noise and support for me in my upcoming match against Vukic.”
With his blend of power and finesse, Draper is a force to be reckoned with on the court and is sure to put on a show for the fans. So, Australian tennis fans, get ready to bring the noise and cheer on Jack Draper as he looks to make a splash at the Australian Open!
Tags:
Australian Open, Jack Draper, home fans, noise, Aleksandar Vukic, tennis, Australian Open 2022, tennis news, match preview, player interview, Melbourne Park, Grand Slam, sports rivalry
#Australian #Open #Jack #Draper #home #fans #bring #noise #ahead #Aleksandar #Vukic #clash #Tennis #NewsAustralian Open: Jack Draper wants home fans to bring more noise ahead of Aleksandar Vukic clash | Tennis News
Jack Draper says the hostile crowd at the Australian Open gave him energy and wants the fans to bring more noise for his third-round clash against Aleksandar Vukic on Friday.
During Draper’s 6-7 (7-3) 6-3 3-6 7-5 6-3 victory over home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis, the Australian fans were whistling or shouting to distract the British No 1 in what he described as some of the worst “abuse” he has received.
However, the British No 1 is drawing confidence from having come through back-to-back four-hour matches and is hoping to replicate his success against Vukic.
“It was amazing, an electric atmosphere. Obviously getting quite a lot of abuse from the crowd in between the serves,” Draper said following his second-round victory.
“I think sometimes you don’t want to rile them or give it back. But to be fair, it gave me energy doing that.
“There were times where I was down, then I come through a tough game and I was feeling it a little bit. It gave me energy giving it back a little bit, it’s just a bit of fun.
“They are saying stuff to me. It’s nice to sort of just give it a bit of an ear. They were whistling and talking in between serves. It’s all fun but when you’re about to serve, it’s really difficult. But I have thick skin.”
Draper advanced to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time in his career following a five-set thriller against Thanasi Kokkinakis
When Draper was asked if it was the worst abuse he had experienced he agreed but also noted that it was the “best atmosphere” he has been a part of.
Last year, the 23-year-old won two ATP titles and reached the US Open semi-finals and is now eyeing success in Masters 1000 events and Grand Slams in 2025.
“I’ve been working physically a lot for a long time,” Draper added. “When people say, ‘oh you’re not fit enough’, it’s part of it.
“As a young player, when you come into these big events and you have to deal with the media and the crowds, you’re playing tournaments you’ve dreamed of playing since you were young and you are expected to do well, it was a bit too much for me at the start.
“I feel like, especially at the back end of last year, I built a lot of confidence in myself, a lot of belief.
“I think winning the titles and making the semis of the US just gave me that security in my mind that I’m good enough and that I’m doing the right things.
“It has given me a calmness as well. Instead of carrying a lot on my shoulders, I feel more relaxed.”
Draper proud of ‘special talent’ Fearnley’
Draper is joined in the third round by fellow Briton Jacob Fearnley, who ignored the crowd during his first-round win over Australian Nick Kyrgios.
Fearnley defeated France’s Arthur Cazaux 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-3 and broke more new ground to set up a third-round clash with second seed Alexander Zverev.
“I’m proud of Jacob, he’s an incredible player,” Draper added.
“He’s always been a special talent. Obviously I’m good friends with him but we’re going to be competing against each other with the No 1 Brit situation. I think it’s great for British tennis and we’re lucky to have him.”
Fearnley admitted to feeling nervous ahead of his clash against Zverev but is hoping to take it in his stride.
“It’s another massive match. I assume it will be on a big court. He’s playing unbelievably. I’m aware that all these matches that I’m getting are extremely challenging,” Fearnley said.
“I do get nervous but I know how lucky I am to have these experiences and play these matches.
“These matches don’t come around often. I’m trying to cherish them and stay in the present moment really and just try and enjoy these massive matches because they are some of the biggest that I can play.
“To be in the third round with Jack is really special. I’ve known him since we were very young and to be in this tournament together in the third round is awesome.
“Obviously we do our own thing and we’re trying to get as far as we can.”
Draper is set to face home favourite Aleksandar Vukic in the third round of the Australian Open
‘Kokkinakis must be sick of the sight of the Brits‘
Sky Sports’ Jonathan Overend:
“Two five-setters at the start of a Grand Slam – what an effort! And actually, some of his best tennis was in that final set of the match.
“Admittedly, Kokkinakis was feeling the heat, feeling the pain and not anywhere near able to serve near his best, but I thought Draper played an incredibly mature fifth set. Really engaging his brain and playing sensibly.
“Never easy when you’re having to put away a stricken opponent and we’ve seen people in the past struggle to deal with that sort of situation, but not Draper.
“He always looked in control, had a slightly sticky moment mid-way through the set, but dealt with it so impressively. From that moment there was only realistically one winner and what a shot to close it out.
“Who doesn’t love a thunderbolt forehand winner to win a match at a Grand Slam? Brilliant from Draper. Easier matches lie ahead. Kokkinakis must be sick of the sight of the Brits after his thriller with Andy Murray a couple of years ago.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app.
Jack Draper, the rising star of British tennis, is ready to take on Aleksandar Vukic in the Australian Open and he’s calling on the home fans to bring more noise to support him.Draper, who is known for his powerful serve and aggressive playing style, is hoping to make a big impact at this year’s tournament and is eager to feed off the energy of the crowd.
In a recent interview, Draper expressed his excitement about playing in front of the Australian fans and said, “I love playing in front of a passionate crowd. It really fires me up and helps me play my best tennis. I’m hoping the fans will bring even more noise and support for me in my upcoming match against Vukic.”
With his blend of power and finesse, Draper is a force to be reckoned with on the court and is sure to put on a show for the fans. So, Australian tennis fans, get ready to bring the noise and cheer on Jack Draper as he looks to make a splash at the Australian Open!
Tags:
Australian Open, Jack Draper, home fans, noise, Aleksandar Vukic, tennis, Australian Open 2022, tennis news, match preview, player interview, Melbourne Park, Grand Slam, sports rivalry
#Australian #Open #Jack #Draper #home #fans #bring #noise #ahead #Aleksandar #Vukic #clash #Tennis #NewsAustralian Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic v Tomas Machac score before Jack Draper vs Aleksandar Vukic
The Australian Open continues as Novak Djokovic faces a stern test against Tomas Machac and Jack Draper bids to set up a clash against Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round.
But Jacob Fearnley’s debut run is over after the 23-year-old Scot was beaten in straight-sets by second seed Alexander Zverev, who is yet to drop a set in Melbourne.
British interest in the men’s singles now lies with Draper who will expect another hostile crowd when he takes on Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic after surviving a marathon test against Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Djokovic, meanwhile, has dropped sets to inexperienced opponents in Nishesh Basavareddy and Jaime Faria so the 24-time grand slam champion will expect an even tougher challenge against Machac, a player who beat him in their last meeting.
In the women’s singles, Aryna Sabalenka continued her winning run at the Australian Open while Coco Gauff battles Leylah Fernandez, but two-time champion Naomi Osaka is out after she was forced to retire from her match against Belinda Bencic.
Follow all the latest scores and results from Melbourne Park below:
Australian Open latest scores and results
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Australian Open third round begins in Melbourne
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Jacob Fearnley beaten in straight sets by second seed Alexander Zverev
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Jack Draper faces another Australian favourite in Aleksandar Vukic
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Carlos Alcaraz awaits winner in fourth round after win over Nuno Borges
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Novak Djokovic faces Czech seed Tomas Machac on Rod Laver Arena
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Aryna Sabalenka through to fourth round despite shaky win
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Naomi Osaka forced to retire after first set against Belinda Bencic
Australian Open: *Novak Djokovic 5-1 Tomas Machac
08:48 , Jamie Braidwood
Break! For the third game in a row, Machac loses the first couple of points on serve and Djokovic quickly gets a look at another three break points.
Machac is pushed into the forehand miss out wide and Djokovic takes the double break.
(Getty Images) Australian Open Novak Djokovic 4-1 Tomas Machac*
08:45 , Jamie Braidwood
Incredible game between Djokovic and Machac, but it’s the 10-time champion who emerges with the hold to consolidate the break.
Machac had the crowd on their feet by winning a lengthy opening point with great defensive coverage behind the baseline.
Djokovic, though, responded with a high level, finishing the game off at the net. The 37-year-old has really had to raise it here.
Australian Open *Novak Djokovic 3-1 Tomas Machac
08:37 , Jamie Braidwood
It’s been a difficult day for serving in Melbourne, with a breeze swirling around the Rod Laver Arena.
For the second game in a row, Machac faces 0-30 on serve and will again face break points as Djokovic stepped in on the forehand after a net-cord from the Czech.
Djokovic catches the line on the return but Machac saves with excellent hands at the net.
But Djokovic takes the break on the fifth opportunity, as Machac nets on the backhand.
Australian Open: Novak Djokovic 2-1 Tomas Machac*
08:33 , Jamie Braidwood
Machac comes into the net and pops over the volley into open court to get to 30-30 on the Djokovic serve.
But he can’t do enough to force the break point. Djokovic instead holds with the backhand winner down the line.
Machac, though, has shown enough in three games to suggest that this will be as competitive as many thought.
Australian Open: *Novak Djokovic 1-1 Tomas Machac
08:28 , Jamie Braidwood
Incredible recovery from Machac! He looked to be slumping into a horror opening service game, facing 0-40 after netting.
But Machac saves all three, and in style. He displays wonderful athleticism to reach a Djokovic drop shot and find the angled pick-up on the third break point.
He holds from there. Excellent start from Machac.
Australian Open: Novak Djokovic 1-0 Tomas Machac*
08:24
Is that a hint at what’s to come? Machac drags Djokovic into deuce in a six-minute opening service game, with competitive exchanges in the baseline rallies from the start.
Djokovic gets his hold but is made to work for it, as Machac drifts a return long.
Australian Open: *Novak Djokovic 0-0 Tomas Machac
08:17 , Jamie Braidwood
Tomas Machac had a breakthrough year last season, with his straight-sets victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Shanghai quarter-finals being the highlight. He also beat Djokovic in the Geneva semi-finals.
But he lost to Jack Draper in the last-16 of the US Open and played an absolute horror. The 24-year-old is yet to make the breakthrough at the grand slams but this is his opportunity.
Djokovic will serve first.
(Getty Images) Australian Open: Novak Djokovic vs Tomas Machac
08:10 , Jamie Braidwood
Here we go! The players are out onto the Rod Laver Arena. Novak Djokovic will have to be at the top of his game today, assuming the extremely Tomas Machac turns up.
Elsewhere, Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez are set to begin their clash on the Margaret Court Arena. It’s a tasty match between two of the brightest players in the game.
Australian Open: Jacob Fearnley on defeat to Alexander Zverev
07:57
Jacob Fearnley had no complaints after exiting the Australian Open in a straight-sets defeat to Alexander Zverev, as the Scot reflected on another breakthrough week.
“Extremely good opponent,” Fearnley said of Zverev, who won 6-3 6-4 6-4. “I thought I played some good tennis, some good moments, some low moments.
“I don’t think there was too much in it. Just a few points here and there. I think that’s what those top guys do so well. They keep composed, and their base level just stays the same throughout the whole match. Mine went quite up and down, which I think is what cost me the match.
“Obviously an extremely, extremely good week for me. An unbelievable tournament. I’m looking forward to coming back in the future.”
(Getty Images) Australian Open: Novak Djokovic vs Tomas Machac
07:43 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic faces his biggest test of the Australian Open so far when he takes on Tomas Machac on the Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic has so far dropped sets to inexperienced opponents in American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy and Portuguese Jaime Faria.
And the 24-time grand slam champion will expect another step up when he takes on Machac, who won their last meeting in Geneva last season.
Machac also had a win over Andy Murray last last season, who is now sitting on Djokovic’s bench.
That will get underway from 8am GMT.
(Getty Images) When does Jack Draper play Aleksandar Vukic at Australian Open?
07:31 , Jamie Braidwood
So it could be Carlos Alcaraz next for Jack Draper, as the British No 1 bids to reach the Australian Open fourth round for the first time
But Draper plays another Australian in Aleksandar Vukic, after surviving a five-set thriller against Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Draper overcame a hostile atmosphere and “abuse” from the home fans as he defeated Kokkinakis in what was the longest match of the 23-year-old’s career.
But Draper said that the jeering home crowd actually increased his energy and made him play better against Kokkinakis.
Vukic, 28, is through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time and the World No 67 will have the crowd’s backing as he looks to continue his run.
He is one of two Australian players left standing at the tournament – along with eighth seed Alex de Minaur.
When does Draper play Vukic at Australian Open and how can I watch on TV?
Australian Open: Carlos Alcaraz drops set but races through
07:26
Carlos Alcaraz dropped his first set of the Australian Open but the Spaniard quickly put it behind him to beat Nuno Borges and reach the third round.
Alcaraz is quietly going about his business in Melbourne, as the Spaniard bids to become the youngest player to win all four grand slams at the age of 21.
He came through a third-round clash with Portugal’s Borges 6-2 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3.
Alcaraz is through to the fourth round, where he will face either British No 1 Jack Draper of Australian hopeful Aleksandar Vukic.
(Getty Images) Australian Open: Naomi Osaka retires against Belinda Bencic
07:15 , Jamie Braidwood
A tough end to Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open. The former World No 1 is forced to retire at the end of the first set to Belinda Bencic.
Osaka led 5-2 in the first set but began to struggle to with her stomach and took painkillers after calling the physio onto court.
Bencic came back to force the tiebreak, winning the decider 7-3, before Osaka decided to shake hands at the net.
(Getty Images) Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka through after shaky win
07:10 , Jamie Braidwood
Aryna Sabalenka dismissed concerns about her serve after beating Carla Tauson 7-6 6-4 to reach the fourth round.
The match on the Rod Laver Arena began with seven consecutive breaks of serve, with the World No 1 struggling with the conditions on the Rod Laver Arena.
“After a few games the balls became much heavier and it’s hard to serve aggressive, powerful serves, so you just try to direct the serve somehow and start building the rallies,” Sabalenka said.
“Tauson received it very well and I did too and that’s why it was such a rather unusual match. Thank God that I succeeded in managing the conditions.”
Jacob Fearnley bundled out of Australian Open in straight sets
07:05 , Eleanor Crooks
Jacob Fearnley’s fine Australian Open debut ended with a straight-sets loss to second seed Alexander Zverev in the third round.
The Scot continues to take the upper levels of the professional game comfortably in his stride and he did not look out of place against one of the tournament favourites on Margaret Court Arena.
But he could not maintain any sustained pressure on Zverev, who wrapped up a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory in two hours and two minutes.
Fearnley struck marginally more winners, with his forehand causing Zverev consistent problems, but there were also 34 unforced errors compared to only 15 for the German.
It has nevertheless been an excellent week for Fearnley, who defeated Nick Kyrgios and the Australian crowd in the first round before coming from a set down to see off Arthur Cazaux in round two.
Jacob Fearnley bundled out of Australian Open in straight sets
Australian Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic dominates Tomas Machac in straight setsNovak Djokovic has continued his blistering form at the Australian Open, defeating Tomas Machac in a commanding fashion. The world No. 1 was in complete control throughout the match, showcasing his trademark precision and power.
The Serbian maestro took the first set 6-2, displaying his superior shot-making and court coverage. He then followed it up with a dominant 6-1 victory in the second set, leaving Machac with no answers to his relentless attack.
As the players head into the third set, Djokovic looks poised to seal the match in straight sets and advance to the next round. Meanwhile, fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming clash between Jack Draper and Aleksandar Vukic, which promises to be an exciting battle.
Stay tuned for more updates and live coverage of the Australian Open action. #AusOpen #DjokovicvsMachac
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#Australian #Open #LIVE #Novak #Djokovic #Tomas #Machac #score #Jack #Draper #Aleksandar #Vukic
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Draper vs. Vukic, Humbert vs. Fils
Getty Images It will be an all-French battle when Arthur Fils takes on Ugo Humbert for a spot in the Australian Open round of 16 on Friday. Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic will also be in action against No. 15 seed Jack Draper.
(14) Ugo Humbert vs. (20) Arthur Fils
This one is about as juicy as the third round in a major can get. The seedings held up and No. 14 Ugo Humbert will take on countryman Arthur Fils for the fifth time in 18 months. Besides a shellacking that Fils took in Montreal last summer, the matches have been competitive–with their last clash in the final of Tokyo a legitimate barnburner. It was the first win for Fils in the head-to-head series, which Umbert still leads 3-1 on the main tour.
Humbert’s best year by far was his 2024 season, which he wrapped up with a run to the final at home at the Paris Masters. He got clapped in the title match by Alexander Zverev, but he dispatched world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz en route. Fils had a similarly impressive 2024 with two titles and an appearance at the NextGen ATP Finals. Humbert has gotten through in straight sets in the first two rounds this week, but he played a pair of qualifiers. Fils dropped a set in both of his first matches in Melbourne against Otto Virtanen and Quentin Halys.
While Humbert has the edge in the head-to-head, Fils may well already be turning the tide in this matchup.
Cheryl pick: Fils in 5
Ricky pick: Fils in 5
(15) Jack Draper vs. Aleksandar Vukic
Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic is ranked 68th in the world, but he is playing much better than that right now. With the 28-year-old playing at home and coming off an upset win over No. 22 seed Sebastian Korda in the second round, he is a dangerous opponent–even for the No. 15 seed. Vukic elected to finish his 2024 season on the Challenger circuit, where he made the semis in Taipei after also reaching an ATP semifinal in Almaty.
The top-ranked Brit in men’s tennis, Jack Draper, was absolutely fantastic in the last quarter of the 2024 season. He came somewhat out of nowhere to claw his way into the semifinals of the U.S. Open. And while it’s not usual for one quarter of the draw to open up at the last major of the year, it gave Draper momentum into autumn and he won his second title of the season in Vienna.
Draper has been through the wringer in Melbourne so far. He has been on court over 8.5 hours in two matches and has a pair of somewhat shocking five-set battles against Mariano Navone and Thanasi Kokkinakis to earn his spot in the third round. With the way Vukic has been playing, this one is an upset alert.
Cheryl pick: Vukic in 4
Ricky pick: Vukic in 5
In a battle of tennis titans, Draper takes on Vukic in a thrilling match-up. Who will come out on top in this showdown of skills and strategy?Meanwhile, Humbert faces off against Fils in a clash of the titans on the court. Who will emerge victorious in this high-stakes match of power and precision?
Stay tuned as these players go head-to-head in a showdown that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Don’t miss a moment of the action as these tennis stars battle it out for supremacy.
Tags:
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- Humbert vs Fils preview
- Tennis showdown: Draper vs Vukic, Humbert vs Fils
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- ATP match predictions: Draper vs Vukic, Humbert vs Fils
- Tennis news: Draper faces off against Vukic, Humbert takes on Fils
- Draper vs Vukic, Humbert vs Fils: A tennis fan’s guide
- Key matchups: Draper vs Vukic, Humbert vs Fils
- Breaking down the Draper vs Vukic, Humbert vs Fils matches
- Exciting tennis action: Draper vs Vukic, Humbert vs Fils showdown
#Draper #Vukic #Humbert #Fils
Bouzkova passes three-hour Gibson test, Vukic stuns Goffin
Marie Bouzkova has survived a gruelling first outing of the new season against heavy-hitting Australian wildcard Talia Gibson at the Brisbane International.
One of seven Czechs in the top 50, Bouzkova returned to the Queensland capital for the first time since 2020 and required three hours to hold off the 20-year-old world No.140 7-6(5) 3-6 6-3.
“It was incredibly tough. The last game was super long and obviously so much credit to Talia, she played so well,” the world No.44 said.
“She’s so young, so we can see that she has a bright future ahead of her so I’m happy for Australian tennis and for myself, I’m really happy to pull this one through … Honestly, [I was] just grinding every ball because she has so much power, so I was kind of behind a lot of the rallies.
“I think I served well, a lot of the key moments and obviously the last game it was about my return as well.”
Bouzkova recovered from a 0-4 opening-set deficit and stood her ground to break the West Australian in a 15-minute final game to set a second-round meeting against another powerful ball-striker, seventh seed Jelena Ostapenko.
“It almost felt like today was kind of preparation for that match because she has so much power as well and we haven’t played for some years, so we’ll see how it goes,” she said.
Vukic glides past Goffin, Joint books clash against former No.1 Azarenka
Australian wildcard Aleksandar Vukic closed out the night session with a convincing victory over former world No.7 David Goffin.
In a first-time meeting between the pair, the world No.68 prevailed 6-2 6-3 to set a second-round clash against either reigning champion Grigor Dimitrov or qualifier Yannick Hanfmann.
“I think I definitely served good when I needed to. There were patches where I wasn’t making enough and getting into slight trouble on my serve and then when I needed to I served well … I thought my performance was very good,” Vukic said.
“It was my first year playing day in, day out at this level, a lot of ups and downs but really very confident going into the new season.”
Earlier, teenage wildcard Maya Joint set a showdown with former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka in her Brisbane International debut after claiming an all-Australian stoush against Maddison Inglis on Sunday.
In only her fourth WTA-level match, the 18-year-old played with the fearlessness of youth when she jumped to 5-0 early and sustained her advantage through a more evenly contested second set for a 6-3 6-4 victory over the 154th-ranked Inglis at Pat Rafter Arena.
18-year-old Maya Joint defeats compatriot Maddison Inglis 6-3 6-4 to kickstart her #BrisbaneTennis campaign.
The young Aussie will take on two-time Brisbane champion Victoria Azarenka in the second round! pic.twitter.com/VAx6TvPT8q
— Brisbane International (@BrisbaneTennis) December 29, 2024
“I train here, so it’s super special to be able to play a match in front of this amazing crowd,” Joint said. “It’s really important to start the season off well and I can’t think of a better place to do it than here.
“I’m super excited to just play a lot of firsts – first main draw here, first main draw at the Australian Open.”
Australia’s fastest-rising player over the past year, Joint climbed a staggering 655 places to end inside the top 120 following a season that included two ITF titles, a WTA 125 final and a win over Laura Siegemund to reach the second round at the US Open.
The teenager vowed to learn from a defeat to world No.21 Madison Keys at Flushing Meadows in her next match against two-time former champion Azarenka.
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“I’m really excited to play her. Yeah, I’ll think back to my Madison Keys match. That was a great experience. I hope I can play well again,” Joint said.
“There was a lot of things that I saw that I needed to improve in my own game to be competitive with those sorts of players … I’m glad I got a good win under my belt. I’ll take confidence from that. She hasn’t played a match yet this week, so we’ll see how it goes.”
In final-round men’s singles qualifying, German Yannik Hanfmann and 19-year-old American Nishesh Basavareddy ended the hopes of two former top-10 French players to book their main draw berths.
Hanfmann halted the 38-year-old Gasquet’s final Brisbane appearance 7-6(4) 6-3, while Basavareddy posted a 6-4 6-4 result over Lucas Pouille.
A third Frenchman, Benjamin Bonzi, was more fortunate after Bulgarian Adrian Andreev retired injured in just the fifth game, while two Australians, Tristan Schoolkate and Li Tu, fell short against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin and Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, respectively. Argentine Federico Agustin Gomez advanced over third seed Dusan Lajovic 6-1 7-6(4).
In a thrilling day of tennis action, Marie Bouzkova passed a three-hour test against Caroline Gibson to advance to the next round. The match was filled with intense rallies and impressive shot-making from both players, but Bouzkova ultimately emerged victorious.Meanwhile, Aleksandar Vukic pulled off a stunning upset by defeating David Goffin in a hard-fought battle. Vukic showcased his powerful serve and relentless baseline game to outlast the higher-ranked opponent and secure a memorable win.
Stay tuned for more exciting matches and surprises as the tournament continues!
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