Jack Draper controversially hits ball through the net to win marathon 3hr 39m match | Tennis | Sport
Jack Draper came through a marathon match to advance to the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International. The Brit needed three hours and 39 minutes to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic 5-7 7-6(9) 7-6(7), saving two match points in the second set. It wasn’t without some controversy, as Kecmanovic rowed with the umpire when he thought one of Draper’s shots went through the net.
Draper came out on the losing end of a tight opening set, which saw Kecmanovic earn a crucial break in the final game. It was another battle in the second set which went to a tiebreak where the British No. 4 blew three set points before Kecmanovic had a chance to close out the match.
But the 22-year-old held on and managed to force a decider, where he was again taken to a tiebreak after saving three break points. World No. 55 Kecmanovic raced into a 4-1 lead before Draper put himself back in it and earned his first match point in a controversial rally.
The Serb refused to play for several minutes as he confronted the umpire after claiming the ball went through the net on one of Draper’s shots. But the official refused to budge and awarded the point to the Brit. Draper couldn’t get the job done straight away, however, eventually going on to convert his third match point.
It meant that Draper got revenge for his defeat to Kecmanovic at the Davis Cup two months ago, when Britain lost to Serbia in the quarter-final. The world No. 62 is now through to the quarter-final, where he faces top seed Tommy Paul.
The pair faced off in the second round at the same tournament last year, with Draper coming through 6-4 6-4 during his run to the semi-final. Draper is looking to build on a strong end to the 2023 season, which saw him reach his first ATP Final in Sofia before he won the Ultimate Tennis Showdown exhibition tournament in London.
The Brit reached a career-high ranking of No. 38 last year before facing multiple setbacks. Draper suffered from cramps during his first-round Australian Open defeat to Rafael Nadal and was later forced to retire from the Indian Wells Masters with an abdomen injury.
