Vukic so close to a huge career best effort at a Grand Slam
Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic was the only Aussie player to take to the court in singles action on day 6.

He would face Britain’s no. 15 seed Jack Draper.
Draper had escaped a tough match against another Australian, Thanasi Kokkinakis, the Brit winning in five sets. Kokkinakis was serving for the match in the fourth set.
Vukic had reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time with a five set win over Sebastian Korda.
Going into the match it would be interesting to see how Draper recovered from his long match in the previous round. His Australian Open preparation wasn’t ideal after sitting out with injury.
Vukic got off to an ideal start when breaking the Brit in the opening game. Vukic would consolidate the break to lead 2-0 after a love hold of serve.
Game 8 of the first set was pivotal. Vukic was broken to love and then we saw Draper hold and break again to take control.
In the second set it was Vukic that took control early, he broke in the opening game and then held after a bit of a struggle on serve. Another break and the Australian held a double break advantage. Suddenly Vukic was 5-0 ahead after yet another break.
Vukic was broken when serving for the set, before Draper held serve. Vukic held to love to wrap up the second set in fine fashion.
After both players held serve to see the match at 5-5, it was a pair of double faults that saw Draper hand a game to Vukic. Draper would hold several break points to level things up, it was however Vukic that fought to win the game and with that take the set.
The fourth set saw neither player able to get a break of serve and it was at 5-5 that Vukic was just two points from a spot in the fourth round. Draper managed to hold his nerve and forced an error from the Australian for 6-5. A volley winner would get the Brit back in the match at 2-2.
In the deciding fifth set it was Draper that got the early break to lead 2-1. Vukic would hit back in the sixth game to see the score at 3-3.
The match would go to a 10 point tie break.
Either player was in with a shot at taking the match, but Draper just found enough to claim the match after it got to 9-8. A well placed Draper serve saw Vukic unable to stay in the match, the Brit claiming a 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6(5), 7-6(10-8) victory.
Vukic had gone so close to a huge breakthrough win, but it was not to be.
The loss for Vukic saw Alex de Minaur as the only Australian left in the singles draw.