Jack Draper silenced the Aussie fans for the second straight match, as he delivered the latest in a heroic series of performances in Melbourne.

Coming back from two sets to one down for the third round in a row, Draper overcame home hope Aleksandar Vukic by a 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 scoreline.

He is not going to win the Australian Open this way, but he has proved to everyone that he is as tough as the local kangaroo jerky.

The fans on Margaret Court Arena did their best to cheer their man over the line. At one stage they even resorted to whistling shortly before Draper was about to serve. Here was an underhand tactic, the tennis equivalent of shining a laser in the eyes of the opposition goalkeeper.

But Draper has a solid temperament, and an even sturdier body. For a man whose endurance has been questioned for years, this has been a breakthrough week.

Asked if he had a message for those who have doubted his physical fortitude, Draper grinned and replied: “No, not really. It’s the truth. I’m done after two sets most of the time.”

“I needed to be better at that,” he added, more seriously. “I still have a long way to go, but this is a huge stride forward. Three five-set matches [in a row], it doesn’t happen often. That’s a testament to the work I’ve done and the place I’m in. So very, very proud of that.”

The quality of Draper’s tennis has not touched the same level that it did in New York, where he reached the semi-finals of the US Open, but the drama has been extraordinary. He has spent around 12-and-a-half hours on the court, relying on heart and guts and sheer determination.

He needed it all in the deciding set, especially after Vukic saved four break points at 3-1 down that would have given Draper a double break. Suddenly, from looking like a moody toddler in need of nap-time, Vukic was bouncing up and down as if he had swigged too much lemonade. He broke back at the next opportunity and made a dash for the finish line.

But Draper steadied himself and eventually took the match on the deciding 10-point tie-break, sealing the deal at 12.55am with one last big serve down the middle. Even his coach James Trotman, the calmest man in tennis, got out of his seat for that one.

“I thought he was done and then he just came back from the dead,” said Draper of Vukic in his on-court interview. “It was incredible. It was just a great battle and that’s what sport’s about.”

In pure tennis terms, Draper has not quite found his best game in this tournament, which is why he keeps being forced to take the scenic route. For much of this match, he was looping his groundstrokes back with limited penetration, which allowed Vukic to get on the front foot.

The frustration boiled over at the end of the third set, when Draper performed a venomous racket smash after a messy sequence in which he had committed consecutive double-faults and then missed a break point. As the fans booed and jeered, he responded with a sarcastic round of applause.

It seemed implausible, at that stage, that he could fight through two more sets against an opponent who was feeling the ball much better than he was. But Draper has plenty of mongrel in his make-up, and he simply would not give in.

One interesting subplot involved a crucial point which Draper won to level the fifth-set tie-break at 6-6. Responding to a short angled volley from Vukic, he dashed forward and put away a forehand winner – but slid mighty close to the net as he did so.

A net-touch there would have forfeited the point, but Vukic did not call for a video review, even though the system is available at this event. He said later that it was up to the umpire to make the call. His own attention, he added, was mainly absorbed by weighing up Draper’s energy levels during those final moments.

“I think we were both pretty b----ered,” Vukic explained. “Sometimes looking over at your opponent in certain rallies, you can kind of sense things. It’s like, ‘Oh, it looks like he’s out of it,’ and then suddenly he’s sprinting side to side. I’m, like, ‘Come on, just relax’.”

It is a sobering thought that, after all this courageous effort, Draper has still only matched the expectations of his status as the 15th seed. And his journey is only going to get tougher. Draper’s next opponent will be the reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, who has breezed through his first three rounds in contrastingly straightforward style, spending only seven-and-a-half hours on the match court to date.

Asked about this next challenge by on-court interviewer Jim Courier, Draper replied: “I’m just thinking about getting off court and my recovery. I don’t want to think about him yet! But Carlos is a special talent, an unbelievable player, someone I have a good friendship with, so I think it’s going to be an incredible match, and hopefully my body bears up and I can give it my all. It’ll be a great contest.”

02:17 PM GMT

Draper: ‘I don’t want to think about Alcaraz’

On winning three consecutive five-set matches after his hip injury: “My body doesn’t feel too great but luckily I’ve got a good physio.

“Mentally, I’ve really competed quite hard. I’ve loved the atmosphere, playing in front of so many people. It’s given me a lot of energy to keep on pushing and I’m surprising myself.

On playing Carlos Alcaraz in the next round: “I don’t know. I’m just thinking about getting off court and my recovery. I don’t want to think about him yet! But Carlos is a special talent, an unbelievable player, someone I have a good friendship with so I think it’s going to be an incredible match and hopefully my body bears up and I can give it my all. It’ll be a great contest.”

02:10 PM GMT

Draper: ‘He came back from the death’

“Alex played incredible. It was an unbelievably tough match. Both of us played a lot of sets in our first couple of rounds so I knew it was going to be a really tough match.

“There were so many ebbs and flows and it was just great tennis and I appreciate you guys staying up so late for us. It was a great match.

On giving up a 3-1 lead in the fifth set: “I thought it was done and he just came back from the death. He was playing incredibly.

“We’re suffering a lot in five sets and you get a lot of energy when you hold serve after 15-40. I twas just a great battle with two competitors going at it and that’s what this sport is all about.”

01:58 PM GMT

DRAPER WINS! 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (10-8) Vukic

That’s a massive winner off the backhand from Draper right into the corner.

The Briton is really going for his shots on the backhand, but he tries the same shot in the next point and goes just long. 7-7.

That’s a rare mistake from Vukic who, at the end of a long rally, thinks Draper is going left but he instead goes to his forehand, and he can’t set his sights properly sending his shot beyond the baseline. Draper is two shots away from a memorable victory.

Another long rally results in yet another bold drop shot by Draper, which Vukic can only net. It’s two match points to Draper!

Draper goes long at the end of a cautious rally.

Can Draper take the match with his second bite of the cherry?

Yes! A massive serve seals the deal and somehow Draper has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time.

Incredible, courageous victory by Draper. And Vukic can only consider himself incredibly unlucky. He was on top for much, if not most, of this extraordinary contest.

Draper wins fifth set and the match.

01:51 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-6 (6-6) Vukic

Draper goes for a brave winner into the corner and his attempt lands in. Amazingly brave shot for 4-3.

Vukic then coaxes two unforced errors from Draper, who is now 5-4 down on serve.

The Aussie can’t get Draper’s serve back: 5-5.

After a long rally Draper lets Vukic back into the rally and the Australian bamboozles his opponent with a wicked drop shot to take the mini-break lead.

At 5-5 Draper gets a lucky net cord and hares to the net to meet Vukic’s response, placing it neatly into the open court and stopping a fraction short of the net – very nearly touching it with his big toe. Did he touch it? If he did VAR could get involved. He might have touched the bottom of teh net there with his foot but no one saw it – not the umpire, not Vukic. Maybe not even Draper.

01:46 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-6 (3-3) Vukic

Vukic serves first in this first-to-10 tie-break but makes a hash of his attempted pass and can only net to hand Draper a mini-break.

Draper powers down ace no 29 of the match and Vukic then fires his attempted return well wide to bring up 3-0 to Draper.

Vukic sends a slower serve to the T which Draper can’t get back and Draper offers up an unforced error in the ensuing rally, bringing Vukic back into contention.

There’s another long rally with both players going cross-court for what seems like an age and then when Draper tries to make the change and go down the line. He misses – and it’s 3-3.

01:42 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-6 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Incredible first point won by Draper who again tried the drop shot which Vukic gets to. What follows is some fencing at the net as both players try to volley the ball back and the pattercake-pattercake ends with Vukic fluffing his final shot.

A brilliant return by Vukic but he makes a mess of his attempted winner.

Draper senses his chance and hits a pair of solid serves to force tie-break.

What a time to get new balls! The change-up was clearly helpful to Draper at 5-4, as he simply landed four first serves and let the fresh Dunlops do all the work. Vukov was looking to do the same, and while he wasn’t quite as slick, he’s earned at least a tie-break in this set. Draper’s problems with the short forehand from close to the net have been apparent all through this match and his horrid drop shot on the last point was a by-product of his own uncertainty.

Tie-break.

01:39 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 5-6 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic blasts his way to 30-0 with two blistering serves, but nets to bring up 30-15.

A long rally follows and Draper is a millimetre out with his attempted pass.

At 15-40 Draper hangs in the point and Vukic nets.

There is another long rally but Vukic wins the point despite some incredible defence from Draper who is quite remarkable at returning strokes that appear unreturnable.

Vukic takes the game and the pressure is once again on Draper to hold serve to stay alive at Melbourne.

01:34 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 5-5 Vukic (*denotes server)

Vukic returns the first serve but Draper is on to it in a flash and powers a winner down the line.

The next serve is too hot for Vukic to handle and the third is even better.

The Aussie nets the next serve and Draper holds impressively to love.

01:32 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 4-5 Vukic* (*denotes server)

At 15-15 Vukic delivers the most impudent of sliced drop-shots to edge ahead.

Vukic then looks as though he has missed the most straightforward put aways, but it touched the edge of the line much to the Briton’s chagrin. Draper wins the next point, though, to bring up 30-40 in this incredible contest.

The Aussies go wild as Vukic pummels yet another forehand winner down the line which means Draper has to hold serve to stay in the match.

01:29 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 4-4 Vukic (*denotes server)

The crowd, who were silenced at the end of the fourth set, are in full voice now as they witness a remarkable match.

Vukic nets to hand Draper the first point and then passes him with a slowish cross-court winner Draper would have surely reached had this been the first set.

Draper moves 30-15 ahead with some bold net play, reaching Vukic’s attempted pass and then smashing his way to 40-15.

The Briton plays a superb final point moving Vukic wide before despatching a winner down the line to win the game.

01:25 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 3-4 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic has rediscovered his former self and is hitting big serves and coming to the net.

His leap to reach and put away Draper’s lob is superhuman and brings up 0-40.

Draper wins the next point but Vukic is unmoved, producing another howitzer of an ace to hold serve and take the lead in this topsy-turvy set.

01:22 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 3-3 Vukic (*denotes server)

A mishit return and a glorious pass down the line – Vukic’s signature shot – brings up 0-30 and then Draper makes an unforced error to bring up three break points. Vukic finds some energy from somewhere and starts free-wheeling around the court waving his arms to whip up the crowd.

Draper delivers two big serves to save two break points but on the third Draper attempts another drop shot to which Vukic is alive. He passes Draper and the crowd go wild!

What a match!

Vukic breaks serve.

01:17 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 3-2 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic is neither unleashing the serves or the ground strokes that have hitherto characterised his superb display and Draper forces him into two long rallies which he wins to go 0-30 up.

Draper is driving Vukic on to the back foot with his toppy approaches and the Australian nets again to offer two break points to Draper.

Vukic rises to the occasion though, saving the second break point with a blistering forehand across court that gives Draper no chance.

The Australian nets a regulation forehand at deuce and then fires down an ace to save break point number three in this game.

Draper earns a fourth break point with an amazing whipped forehand that looks for all the world as though it is going out but then dips into the corner of the court at the death.

Vukic stands tall though and powers a winner down the line again with a brave shot, and then earns his first advantage with a clever slower serve.

Draper nets at the end of another leg-sapping rally and Vukic somehow holds.

01:11 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 3-1 Vukic (*denotes server)

Vukic is not playing with quite the same intensity as previously, understandably, and he lashes another attempted winner well wide on the first point of the match.

He must be so frustrated after being the superior contender in the fourth set only to somehow lose it.

At 15-15 Vukic goes for another pass and sends it agonisingly wide.

Is Draper tempting him into these shots, one wonders?

A big serve gives him game point and he hits the line with a winner to move 2-0 up.

01:07 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 2-1 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic thunders another forehand across court to remind Draper he’s still in a fight but he hits a sixth double-fault to give Draper hope and 15-15.

Vukic goes for another big winner down the line but for once his aim is awry and it’s 15-30.

Draper can’t return his next serve and Vukic releases a furious war cry.

A long rally at 30-30 results in an unforced error by Vukic, who nets to bring up break point.

Draper has a chance and doesn’t need to do much to take it because the Aussie goes for another brave forehand down the line and misses. Draper gets a vital break to edge ahead!

Draper breaks serve.

01:02 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 1-1 Vukic (*denotes server)

These two must be dog tired by now, athletes though they are, which might explain Draper’s use of the drop shot on the first point, which succeeds both in draining some more juice out of Vukic’s legs and clinching the point.

Draper makes relatively quick work of the next few points, winning the game to love.

01:00 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 0-1 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic serves first for the first time in this match and he takes the first point with an extraordinary backhand down the line.

The Aussie takes the next two points with a pair of big serves and Draper goes long with a forehand down the line to hand his opponent, who has also played two five-setters in Melbourne, the opening game.

12:52 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5) Vukic (*denotes server)

The players change ends and it’s Vukic to serve next.

He nets with his first serve and then hits a crosscourt winner that clips the top of the net to beat Draper. He apologises for the good fortune.

Draper makes it 4-4 with a smash as Vukic tries to lob him and then goes 5-4 up on second serve with a brave rush to the net and winning volley. Both players are showing great heart.

Outrageous defence from Draper who reaches three impossible shots but Vukic holds his nerve to put the smash away.

Draper for once takes control of a rally by putting Vukic on the back point as the Australian becomes uncharacteristically passive.

And Draper serve-volleys his way into a fifth set!

Quite how Vukic has not won this match god only knows but Draper hung in there when the going was tough and came good in the clutch points when Vukic took his foot ever so slightly off the pedal.

Serious cojones there from Draper! Even James Trotman, the calmest man in tennis, is on his feet. The determination to keep coming forward, even when the approach shots haven’t been flowing too well, was extremely brave. That’s something that Draper learned last year: the need to take the initiative. If we think about Katie Boulter’s loss yesterday, she was too passive at the key moments.

Draper wins fourth set.

12:45 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 6-6 (3-3) Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper takes the first point with a big serve.

Vukic then tests Draper’s defences with two big approach shots and then reaches a smash that is behind him.

The next point is another example of courageous play from the home favourite who comes to the net and meets Draper’s decent attempt at a pass with a brilliant volley.

A rare unforced error from Vukic bring back 2-2 for Draper, who plays a gutsy drop shot of his own on the next point that has Vukic scampering forward to no avail.

Vukic holds for 3-3 despite Draper’s best efforts in defence.

12:41 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 6-6 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Draper returns the first serve well and after a short rally Vukic shanks his attempted winner.

Draper has a glimpse here as he moves 0-30 up after Vukic again errs following a brief rally.

Vukic takes the next point with a ballsy drop shot that catches Draper by surprise.

And after a long, cautious rally Draper nets a regulation backhand. He was punished there for failing to take the initiative.

But Vukic offers up another chance as he goes for a very brave forehand winner down the line which veers into the tramlines.

At break point Draper returns Vukic’s serve but the Australian fires a daring cross-court winner into the corner with nothing to spare.

Vukic misses again with his first serve and Draper takes advantage coming to the net to volley his way to another set-point.

Vukic salvages the set with an extraordinary shot at the net which kills the ball stone dead.

Pure quality from Vukic, who shows nerves of steel there before closing out the game with an ace.

12:34 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 6-5 Vukic (*denotes server)

Outstanding serving by Draper in this game gave Vukic nothing to see.

That will help pile pressure on the home favourite, who is serving to stay in the set.

12:32 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 5-5 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Draper gets aggressive on the first point, coming to the net and putting away a smart volley.

Vukic then advances to the net and Draper misses the chance to pass the Australian.

Draper goes a fraction long with his next attempted winner and is then passed by a wonderful backhand down the line.

Vukic nets at 40-15 but so does Draper with Vukic’s final serve of the game and Vukic holds again.

Draper will be disappointed there as there were chances to make more headway in that game.

12:29 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 5-4 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper could do with an easy service game and he gets one thanks to some solid serving and a rare helping of unforced errors from the Aussie.

In footballing parlance we are approaching squeaky-bum time.

12:27 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 4-4 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Impressive hold to love there from Vukic, who has been the better player this set.

He looks like a veteran at this level, not an unseeded player experiencing the third round of a major for the first time.

12:23 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 4-3 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper goes 15-30 down but Vukic lets him off the hook with an unforced error.

At 30-30 he then criminally lets Vukic’s attempted pass go past him when he could have played it and it lands in.

That’s a brain freeze from Draper! But he salvages break point with an ace down the centre.

Vukic battles hard to stay in the final point but Draper is there to play the winner into the open court after getting Vukic on the run.

That’s a massive hold from Draper.

12:20 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 3-3 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic continues his unfaltering form with a comfortable hold to 15.

12:14 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 3-2 Vukic (*denotes server)

Can Draper put that last game behind him?

The feeling is, no he can’t.

He had his chances and passed them up and suddenly finds himself 0-40 down as Vukic returns well and puts Draper on the back foot with his powerful ground strokes.

Draper somehow claws his way back, though, repeating what Vukic did in the previous game, by saving three game points.

Vukic reaches Draper’s daring drop shot in time but nets – and Draper saves himself with an ace.

What a hold by Draper! Somehow he’s still ahead in this set!

12:11 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7. 2-2 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Draper has three break points but passes them up as Vukic holds his nerve with more gutsy ground-strokes.

The Australian produces the big serves when they count and holds serve with another ace.

12:02 PM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7. 2-1 Vukic (*denotes server)

Vukic plays a remarkable shot around the net post to peg Draper back to 15-15, and Draper misses with his forehand at 30-15 putting more pressure on himself.

A whipped forehand approach forces Vukic wide and Draper takes the point with an assured volley, before clinching the game with a pinpoint shot into the far corner.

That last game contained some spectacular points! Especially the running forehand winner from Vukic into the corner. At the same time, though, there is a sense of legs feeling heavier on both sides. Vukic looks like he is missing a few more balls at last, but his serve down the T remains a banker.

12:00 PM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7. 1-1 Vukic* (*denotes server)

A wonderful volley on the run by Draper earns him the first point but he hands back his good work with a cheap miss, sending a regulation backhand wide.

Vukic shows a rare chink of fallibility by crashing a big forehand into the net, but wins the next two points with successive aces.

Draper hits a good return of serve at 40-30 and Vukic misses wildly with his attempted forehand pass.

The Briton fails to punish Vukic’s second serve coming up short with his return and Draper then goes narrowly wide with an attempted cross-court winner enabling Vukic to hold

11:55 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-7. 1-0 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper, serving first again as he has in every set so far, needs to gather himself.

If he is to win this match he’ll have to do it in five sets for the third time running.

Vukic strikes another glorious passing shot down the line for 15-15, and an unforced error by Draper brings up 30-30.

He anticipates Vukic’s drop shot to secure game-point and then Vukic hits his return long for a big hold for Draper.

Draper will have to come back from two sets to one for a third successive match. I’m not sure he has the gas, to be honest.

A disappointing missed return on second serve on break point, that’s what triggered the racket smash - along with the two double-faults in the previous game. It was a body serve that he missed the return on, and Draper almost ran around his forehand to play a backhand, which gives a sense of which shot he trusts more.

11:47 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-7 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Draper takes the first point with an audacious drop shot from two metres behind the baseline.

And Vukic nets as he cannot contend with Draper’s toppy ground strokes.

Vukic needs to get a first serve in and he does so, and Draper can only send his cross-court attempt long.

A brilliant rally follows with Vukic sending his shot a fraction out to give Draper a sight of break point.

Vuklic holds his nervc by getting his serve in and firing a cross-court winner.

He follows that with an ace which leads to Draper throwing his toys out of the pram. The usually unflappable Briton destroys his racket in a fit of pique, delaying Vukic’s next serve – at set-point.

But Vukic smashes another ace down the middle to take a 2-1 lead.

Vukic is on fire!

And there’s some crowd interaction as Draper turns to the crowd and applauds ironically to their jeers following his racket-ruining hissy fit.

Vukic wins second set.

11:40 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-6 Vukic (*denotes server)

Vukic sees his chance to go 0-15 up but nets with a makeable pass.

The Australian then forces Draper to the net with a drop shot and manages to lob him in spite of his 6ft 4in frame, the Briton reaching the ball but not able to find the open court on the turn.

Draper then finds himself at 30-30 after a big passing shot from Vukic, and he double-faults!

It’s only his second double-fault but a terrible time to produce one.

And at 30-40 it’s an even worse time to produce his third double! That’s disastrous from Draper!

Nasty way to be broken: back-to-back double-faults. And all the work Draper did in coming back in the first set is coming unglued.

Vukic is now serving to go 2-1 up.

Vukic breaks serve.

11:36 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 5-5 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic takes the first point with a big serve and the second as Draper, disappointingly, hits the top of the net with a returnable serve.

Vukic then, for once, sprays a forehand well wide and then plays another injudicious drop-shot that underestimates Draper’s athleticism.

And the Aussie then delivers back-to-back aces to hold impressively.

Ten aces in this set for Draper, but his groundstrokes aren’t penetrating through the court enough to bother Vukic, whose flat hits are more effective. He needs to lift his ball-speed if he is to get on top.

11:33 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 5-4 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper takes the first point but Vukic edges ahead in the game with too extraordinary winners, the first a cross-court forehand and the second a blistering pass down the line.

Draper can ill-afford to lose serve here and he responds like a champion with three straight aces, and fourth in the game, to hold like Pete Sampras in his prime and quieten the chants of “Let’s go, Aussie, let’s go!”

11:30 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 4-4 Vukic* (*denotes server)

It’s a high-quality match and Vukic is somehow maintaining a consistency of ground strokes and serving that belies his ranking, finding a way through Draper’s remarkable defence.

He blasts down another ace to hold serve.

11:27 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 4-3 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper goes 40-0 up after a superb backhand winner, an ace and sheer athleticism during a breathless rally in which both players scampered all over the court to reach seemingly unplayable shots. That was the rally of the match so far.

Draper holds to 15.

Interesting to see Draper giving the home fans a bit back there. During his previous win over Kokkinakis, the moment when he started baiting the hostile fans was also the moment when he found his best tennis.

11:23 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 3-3 Vukic* (*denotes server)

At 15-15 Draper gets away with a poor shot that Vukic should have put away but the Australian nets.

He gets out of trouble with two aces and then a magnificent backhand pass down the line, taking the initiative once again in a long baseline rally.

Draper was too passive there, once again.

11:19 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 3-2 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper takes the first point with a drop shot of his own but is pegged back as Vukic dares to fire a winner down the line on the run when it didn’t seem on.

Draper goes 15-30 down after playing too cautiously, daring Vukic to take the initiative, which he does.

But Draper’s serve gets him out of the hole. Vukic can’t get the first one back and then the Briton produces his 10th ace of the contest.

He then takes the game with yet another cheeky drop shot.

11:15 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 2-2 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic is playing at a level he can only have dreamt of beforehand in what is the biggest match of his career so far.

He plays a rare weak shot in the opening point which is punished by Draper but the Briton then goes for two big winners and misses them both.

Vukic responds with a searing crosscourt forehand, and although Draper wins the next point, Vukic takes the game with a sliced drop shot that has Draper’s legs splayed like Bambi on ice.

11:12 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 2-1 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper responds brilliantly with display of imperious serving.

Three aces and an unforced error give him a solid hold.

11:10 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6, 1-1 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Draper takes the first point after hitting a deep shot from the baseline that lands on the line and forces an error from Vukic.

But Draper is an inch long on his attempted pass in the next point and Vukic then unleashes a blistering winner to move ahead in the game. A massive ace helps him hold serve.

11:07 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 Vukic (*denotes server)

Having lost the opening service games in both sets so far Draper needs to ensure he stops the rot.

He plays too marvellous points despite Vukic’s excellent returns, staying in the point, taking the initiative and then boldly passing the Australian.

But Vukic battles back to 30-30 as Draper mishits in back-to-back rallies.

Draper chooses wrong again at the net playing into an area where Vukic can stay in the point, but he keeps his nerve to fire a winner and set up game-point.

An unforced error hands him the game.

11:02 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 2-6 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic crashes down two big serves and then Draper just misses with a screaching forehand return to hand Vukic three set-points.

He takes the first one with an ace.

Vukic wins second set.

11:00 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 2-5 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper is swinging for it now with nothing to lose in this set.

His strategy pays off even if a delightfully relaxed shot by Vukic at the net after Draper had tried to outfox him with a drop shot made him think at 30-40.

Vukic cedes the game with an unforced error and Draper gets another game back.

10:56 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 1-5 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic tries to serve-volley but flubs an easy volley into the net.

Draper then hits a rocket of a return to go 0-30 up only to blot his copy book by swinging too hard at an attempted winning which is far too long.

A rare double-fault from Vukic hands Draper two break points.

Normal service is resumed with ace No 7 from Vukic but Draper forces him dep with a good return and Vukic can’t get it back.

Draper breaks serve.

10:52 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 0-5 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper is not giving this set up without a fight and serves hard and deep but Vukic is returning well this game.

He brings it back to 30-30 and unforced error gives Draper game-point, but the Briton misses with a cross-court winner attempt and Vukic then wrong-foots hm with a wonderful backhand.

Draper double-faults and he’s 0-5 down.

He’s not playing badly at all but he can’t live with the overperforming Australian at the moment.

Vukic breaks serve.

10:49 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 0-4 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic starts with an ace and another meaty forehand winner.

But Draper hangs in there with the help of his brilliant defence and solid baseline hitting.

Two unforced errors from Vukic later and Draper has break point, but Vukic fires down an ace and an unreturnable serve to set up game point, which he takes with another pulversing serve that Draper returns but Vukic sends back with interest for another winner.

Incdredible tennis from Vukic.

10:43 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 0-3 Vukic (*denotes server)

Vukic is returning well now and forcing Draper on to the back foot with a wonderful display of shot-making from the baseline.

Draper has a good defence but Vukic goes 0-40 up with a blistering winner.

This time a net cord goes against the Aussie, giving Draper momentary respite.

The Briton powers down an ace, but after Vukic returns a big serve and a loopy forehand from Draper, the server hits the top of the net, and the ball drops the wrong side again, handing Vukic a totally deserved second break of serve in this game. Good fortune favours the brave.

A couple of casual forehands from Draper in the last couple of service games and suddenly he’s a double-break down in set two.

Perhaps Vukic has taken his cue from Kokkinakis’s approach on Wednesday because he’s going for a lot of lines and catching them too. You would expect the errors to start ticking up at some stage but it hasn’t happened yet.

Vukic breaks serve.

10:38 AM GMT

Draper 6-4, 0-2 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic is playing well again, racing into a 40-0 lead with some big serving and powerful groundstrokes.

Draper, though, gets back the next two serves and punishes an ill-advised drop shot to claw his way back.

Vukic appears ton have struck a winner deep into the left corner of Margaret Court but Draper somehow gets there again and Vukic can’t return his forehand.

At deuce, Draper goes a fraction wide with his attempted cross-court winner and then holds with a fine winner of his own.

10:35 AM GMT

Draper* 6-4, 0-1 Vukic (*denotes server)

Vukic broke Draper in the opening game of the first set and he does it again in this one.

After going 0-30 down he looked to be back on track when he played another winning drop shot.

But Vukic responded in kind taking the game with a fantastic drop shot of his own.

Vukic breaks serve.

10:30 AM GMT

Draper 6-4 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic misses with his first serve and despite getting another net cord, Draper this time has the time to get to the net, force Vukic wide and smash a winner.

The Australian responds with an ace, and then thinks he has hit a winner into the corner but Draper somehow gets there in time to fire a glorious passing shot down the line.

Draper is in the groove now and another imperious forehand tees up two break points.

Vukic saves the first with an ace but at the end of a long rally, Draper takes the set in style with a perfectly executed drop shot.

Brilliant comeback from Draper, who responds to adversity in the opening game and some brutal serving from his opponent to battle back and turn the tables in just half a hour.

That is a sensational game from Draper, who has now come from 2-4 to 6-4 and taken the set in the process. Two scorching forehand winners on the run, plus the deftest of drop-shot winners. His body language is very imposing right now.

He was so happy with the Kokkinakis win and what it said about his endurance and physicality, and now he is expressing himself nicely in this third-round match. In amongst all that, though, he just put his shirt on back-to-front and had to go back to his bench to change it.

Draper wins the set.

10:25 AM GMT

Draper* 5-4 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper wins the first point with ease but is slow to react to Vukic’s return on the second.

The Briton then misses the chance to put away a drive volley at the net, Vukic guesses the right way and hit a glorious pass to earn 15-30.

Draper claws his way back though thanks to an unforced error from his opponent and an ace.

Draper strikes a beautiful, fizzing shot into the corner and Vukic can’t sort his feet out to get it back.

That’s a hold from Draper and Vukic all of a sudden is serving to stay in the set.

Draper has a plan to break down the Vukic forehand, by the look of things. It feels like Vukic likes the ball when it’s in the slot at hip height but if you can get him out of his strike zone, the errors will tend to flow. Draper’s forehand carries a lot of topspin and he is really trying to whip it up even more and make it leap off the court.

10:21 AM GMT

Draper* 4-4 Vukic (*denotes server)

Vulic has new balls with which to keep blasting away that formidable serve, but Draper gets the first one back and hits a delightful passing shot to earn 0-15.

Draper takes the next point too thanks to a rare unforced error from the Aussie, who also goes long after a lengthy baseline rally.

The Briton is moving more freely now after looking sluggish and a touch stiff at the start.

And Vukic double-faults again to lose the game to love.

Draper breaks serve.

10:17 AM GMT

Draper* 3-4 Vukic (*denotes server)

Draper goes 30-0 up with a glorious shot around the net post that lands in the corner of the court, prompting applause from Vukic.

The Australian takes the next point but Draper, undeterred, hits another good serve and then serve-volleys his way to another hold.

10:15 AM GMT

Draper 2-4 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic starts off with a sublime passing shot down the line and follows up with his third ace of the match.

He shows a chink of light to Draper by missing his first serve for the first time and then double-faulting, but gathers himself to hold again with the help of two more thunderous serves.

10:10 AM GMT

Draper* 2-3 Vukic (*denotes server)

A more commanding game from Draper this time, whose serve is beginning to work for him.

He fires down an ace to win the game to love.

10:09 AM GMT

Draper 1-3 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Sluggish start from Draper against a dangerous opponent, but then he is probably still pretty stiff and sore from Wednesday night.

It’s much less of a partisan atmosphere here on ticketed Margaret Court Arena than it was on the free-to-access John Cain Arena then. And there’s some Brits in to support Draper too.

10:08 AM GMT

Draper 1-3 Vukic* (*denotes server)

A long rally gets this game going and Vukic wins it with some more big shots from the baseline.

An ace follows and Draper can’t get his next serve back.

Draper then nets and the impressive Vukic holds.

10:06 AM GMT

Draper* 1-2 Vukic (*denotes server)

A fortuitous net cord helps Vukic earn 15-15, but a serve and volley from Draper followed by his first ace of the match take him to 40-15.

Draper nets with a regulation forehand but takes the next point with a sweeping cross-court backhand to get his first game on the scoreboard.

10:03 AM GMT

Draper 0-2 Vukic* (*denotes server)

Vukic has started like a train, blasting down an ace with his first serve and racing into a 40-0 lead as Draper is struggling with the home favourite’s deep, powerful hitting.

Another forced error and he is two games down already.

10:01 AM GMT

Draper* 0-1 Vukic (*denotes server)

Vukic starts promisingly, winning the first point with some deep hitting that forces Draper to thwack the ball into the net.

He errs with a forehand into the tramlines to force 15-15 but goes 15-30 up thanks to a delightfully relaxed drop shot.

Draper levels at 30-30 but goes a fraction long in the next rally to succumb to break-point.

A fierce return from Draper’s 191kph serve and the Aussie goes a game up with a break of serve.

Vukic breaks serve.

09:53 AM GMT

New towels, please

The players are out on court and Vukic won the toss, electing for Draper to serve first.

Draper, conscious of the heat and perhaps mindful of the copious sweating that affecting him at the US Open, has said to the umpire. “Could I have a load of white towels please?”

We are one minute away from the start.

09:48 AM GMT

Tale of the tape

This is the first time either player has reached the third round of the Australian Open and their first meeting at any level. The 6ft 2in Vukic has not come this far in any major, while Draper, who stands 6ft 4in, made it to the semi-finals of his last slam, succumbing to Jannik Sinner at the US Open semi-finals in September. Draper, the 15th seed, unquestionably has the quality to come through this test so long as form, fitness and mental fortitude do not betray him.

09:33 AM GMT

Seconds out... round three

Having survived everything Thanasi Kokkinakis – and the boozy home crowd – had to throw at him in the second round, Jack Draper has to do it all over again as he faces another local favourite in the third round of the Australian Open.

Draper showed incredible resolve to battle his way past Kokkinakis, twice coming back from a set down before vanquishing his opponent in four hours and 35 minutes – the longest match of his career.

It was Draper’s second five-setter in a row – he had been required to go the distance against Mariano Navone in the previous round – and a hugely encouraging endurance test overcome, considering he had came into this tournament undercooked, after cancelling his training camp and pulling out of the first tournament of the year to manage his recovery from a hip problem.

His opponent Aleksandar Vukic is unseeded, but has come through similar ordeals in Melbourne, winning back-to-back five setters against Dami Dzumhur and Sebastian Korda, the No 22 seed, which suggests the world No 68 will be no walkover. And with the raucous Friday night crowd fully behind the Sydney native, Draper will doubtless have to dip deep into his well of mental and physical reserves once again on the Margaret Court Arena.