Australian Open 2025 Day 4: Thanasi Kokkinakis falls to Jack Draper, Aleksander Vukic knocks off top American seed

Thanasi Kokkinakis is out of the Australian Open after falling to Jack Draper in a classic, but the Aussie will be left to rue a blown chance to set up an all-Australian round three showdown.

Not that they ever need it, but the Special Ks have been given another reason to shake up the Australian Open with their own brand of rebel tennis after Thanasi Kokkinakis joined his moody doubles partner Nick Kyrgios in crashing out of the singles.

While an ailing Kyrgios lost his first round match in straight sets, Kokkinakis went out in the cruellest way of all – losing in five sets after blowing a golden chance to beat highly-rated Briton Jack Draper in the second round.

Leading two sets to one and 5-3 in the fourth, Kokkinakis stumbled with the finish line in sight as Draper swooped in to win 6-7 6-3 3-6 7-5 6-3 in a rollercoaster match that had the fans at Melbourne Park roaring like they were watching the Ashes.

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“That was a really tough match, Thanasi Kokkinakis is an unbelievable player, someone who I have great respect for,” Draper said. “Every time I play him he brings his best tennis and especially here in Australia he’s so dangerous. I’m really proud of the way I competed today and I eventually came through, I’m very happy about that.”

A US Open semi-finalist last year, Draper was the heavy favourite on paper to beat Kokkinakis but the underrated Aussie is a street fighter who loves a scrap and never gives up even when things don’t go his way.

Kokkinakis may not be the most naturally gifted player on the professional tour but he still finds ways to pick himself up off the canvas when he gets knocked down.

Like Kyrgios, he attracts rowdy crowds that annoy stuffy tennis traditionalists.

The chair umpire had to repeatedly tell the spectators at John Cain Arena to quieten down and show a little more respect to the players but it’s entertainment plus that Kokkinakis feeds off whenever he steps on the court.

“I wanted to play in front of big crowds and whether you guys are with me or against me it was a tough atmosphere to deal with,” Draper said.

“You guys were obviously all with Thanasi but I had a little fun as well. It was so good to be out here and really happy with the amount of support we get here at these big tournaments, it’s unbelievable.”

Kokkinakis battled shoulder pain throughout the bruising encounter. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

He was far from perfect against Draper, making a sloppy start by dropping his opening service game, but still fought back to win the first set in a tie-breaker.

The South Australian surrendered the second but managed to seal the third with a thunderous ace after earlier surviving a 15-minute game to hold serve.

While Kokkinakis needed treatment for a niggling shoulder injury, the Englishman briefly lost his cool and was warned for smashing a ball into the crowd after his serve was broken.

“It’s difficult,” Draper said. “Credit to him. I think he was hurting quite a lot and obviously he pulled out last week and had a really long match in his first match.

“He came out here and he gave it his all until the end, he obviously was hurting but credit to him, it was a great fight today.”

Leading by a break in the fourth, Kokkinakis suddenly got the wobbles as Draper reeled off four games in a row to send the match into a decider, which the top ranked Pom eventually won.

Draper will face another Australian in the next round with Aleksander Vucic lying in wait.

Gutted, Kokkinakis is not finished yet because he’s also entered in the doubles with Kyrgios so the show will go on.