Aleksandar Vukic meets Jack Draper underneath Friday evening lights at Margaret Court docket Enviornment, headlining Aussie motion on Day 6 of Australian Open 2025.
Melbourne, VIC, 16 January 2025 | Jackson Mansell
Aleksandar Vukic is showcasing the type of his life at Australian Open 2025.
Vukic’s second-round victory over twenty second seed Sebastian Korda on Wednesday evening exemplifies his development over the previous seven months.
With 5 wins in opposition to high 25 opponents, two ATP 250 semifinals, and now a maiden third-round berth at a Grand Slam – the oldest Australian to take action at Melbourne Park since Wayne Arthurs in 2001 – the 28-year-old’s sport has advanced.
“When it comes to the state of affairs, when it comes to the ambiance, when it comes to all the things. I believe being down two units to 1 in opposition to an awesome participant in Korda and preventing again when issues weren’t trying too good for me then and making my first third spherical, it’s received to be the very best one, for positive,” Vukic stated of victory over Korda, the most important win of his profession.
“I didn’t wish to simply rock up at the moment and have him simply beat me in a method. I wished to do all I can. Typically you may’t win as a result of clearly there’s an opponent that is superb. Right this moment, with the vitality being dwelling, I used to be capable of get by means of.”
It is Vukic’s day at Kia Enviornment 🇦🇺
The Aussie storms into his maiden grand slam third spherical, defeating Sebastian Korda 6-4 3-6 2-6 6-3 7-5.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/q5Jhhz8c0X
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2025
A fourth-round look for Vukic would require one other top-25 victory. The New South Welshman battles Jack Draper on Friday evening who survived a five-set scare in opposition to Thanasi Kokkinakis. Draper got here from two-sets-to-one down in opposition to a hampered Kokkinakis to assert victory.
“It was a very good match. I do know Thanasi all the time brings his finest tennis when he performs me. After I performed him at Davis Cup, Los Cabos, and Madrid, each time it’s a battle,” he stated. “He serves nice. Often with most gamers, my backhand into their forehand, they break down, whereas he’s one among these gamers who can simply hit a winner off of any place on the forehand, even off the again foot.”
Maiden third-round appearances at Melbourne Park have been a tough path for each Vukic and Draper. The pair have solely endured in five-set matches throughout AO 2025, with the Brit spending essentially the most time on court docket of his third-round compatriots at eight hours and 36 minutes.
Thanasi strikes first‼️
The Aussie takes the tiebreak 7-6(3) in opposition to Jack Draper! #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/YaensyQXZq
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2025
Already accustomed to the bodily and psychological brutality of five-set matches, the world No.68 is ready if his match on Friday evening goes the gap.
“Positively calmer [in five-set matches than I was previously]. I don’t know if my physique’s comfortable. My physique’s like, ‘Are you able to simply make this in three?’ Vukic smiled. “I believe you do get used to it somewhat bit extra. You do get extra snug with it.”
Vukic and Draper will function second up in the course of the evening session at Margaret Court docket Enviornment.
In doubles, 16 Aussies are in motion on Friday together with Olympic gold medallists Matt Ebden and John Friends. Siblings Emerson and Hayden Jones may also function on Day 6.
> VIEW: Australian Open 2025 Day 6 Schedule
Discover your strategy to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to hit the court docket and have some enjoyable!
