- Jack Draper beat American Marcus Giron in five sets at the Australian Open
- The Briton won 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-0 6-2 in the first round in Melbourne
- Draper was sick in a courtside bin straight after the match
Jack Draper put in a huge physical effort to win his first ever five set match – and promptly ran off court to be sick in a courtside bin after clinching match point.
The 21 year-old southpaw overcame American Marcos Giron 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-0 6-2 in three hours twenty minutes after battling away in 30 degree temperatures at Melbourne Park.
He is into the second round and was awaiting the winner of Frenchman Gregoiere Barrere and American Tommy Paul.
Draper could hardly wait for the handshake art the net after he had reeled off the last four games while clearly in discomfort against a highly mobile baseline opponent who had caused him plenty of problems along the way.
He needed to summon the physio after the second set and had his blood pressure checked, and then double faulted to be broken in the third after the resumption.
Jack Draper put in a huge physical effort to beat Marcos Giron 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-0 6-2
The Briton then was sick in a courtside bin after the physical exertion took its toll on him
Draper looked in clear discomfort as the match ended and he had to sit down to recover
As he gingerly got back to his feet after being sick, Draper appeared to be clutching the right side of his stomach, which has troubled him before.
In March, he was forced to retire in the second set of his fourth-round clash with Carlos Alcaraz at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells due to an abdominal injury he picked up in the previous round against Andy Murray.
The injury affected his serve and movement, as Alcaraz won the first set 6-2.
Some treatment from the physio in-between sets did little to improve his condition, and Draper. was only able to last two games in the second set before retiring.
Draper appeared to be clutching the right side of his stomach, which has troubled him before
Draper was attended to by medics on court as he was sick after his marathon match ended
Draper had to summon the physio after the second set and had his blood pressure checked
On Tuesday, urged on by his coaching team to keep the points short, he roared back in the fourth and got to 2-0 before being hauled back again.
A strapping 6’ 5”, this was not an outstanding serving display and he was slightly fortunate that Giron lost his head somewhat in the fourth, referencing the treatment Draper had earlier received.
The GB player has had questions around his stamina before, but on this occasion he answered them in extremely challenging conditions.
Earlier Cam Norrie had consigned any worries about his wrist to history as he comfortably came past Peru’s Juan Pablo Virallas 6-4 6-4 6-2 to make the second round.
The number 19 seed said later that he was grateful for a Tuesday start to allow himself to prepare properly after withdrawing last week from Auckland with a sore left wrist.
He will now face Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, who had upset Serbian Dusan Lajovic. These warm conditions with heavy balls should suit Norrie as he aims for the second week.
