Draper laps up fans' insults.as he beats home favourite

British No 1 defeats Thanasi Kokkinakis at Australian Open

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

Jack Draper said the abuse he received during his thrilling fiveset Australian Open comeback win over home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis inspired him to raise his level as the British No 1 reached the third round of the grand slam for the first time.

Draper was heckled throughout the four-and-a-half-hour contest at a raucous John Cain Arena, with Australian supporters cheering missed first serves from the British player as Kokkinakis closed in on victory.

Kokkinakis, who afterwards revealed he played through a torn pectoral muscle, served for the match in the fourth set but Draper survived and completed a stunning escape before midnight.

Draper held his finger to his ear at several points during the 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory, with chair umpire Marijana Veljovic struggling to contain the home fans and control the atmosphere.

Draper is likely to face a similar scenario when he plays Australian Aleksandar Vukic in the third round but the 23-yearold said that the hostile crowd gave him energy and made him play better.

He took a very different approach to compatriot Jacob Fearnley, who largely ignored the crowd during his first-round win over Australian Nick Kyrgios, with Draper choosing his moments to give some back.