As well as disrupting his off-season, Draper's hip injury meant he was unable to play a warm-up event before the first Grand Slam of the year. In a bid to regain sharpness, he played practice sets against 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic and world number one Jannik Sinner last week on Rod Laver Arena.

After splitting sets with Aleksandar Vukic, the 15th seed found himself facing a set point in the third and obliterated his racket in frustration. It delayed the next point as Draper went to dig out a new racket and dampener while the crowd booed. But he was happy to give it back, jeering the fans on as commentators claimed he "lost the plot".

Jack Draper wishes ‘archrival’ Jacob Fearnley well as Britons shine in Melbourne - Draper and Fearnley will both try to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday.

British number one Jack Draper says he is better prepared to face the heat and overcome concerns about his fitness at this year's Australian Open.

But, considering such a workload after an injury-disrupted off-season, it felt like beating Alcaraz would be a step too far at Melbourne Park. Draper planned ... but I am sad for Jack – he ...

Jack Draper came through a five-set battle in the first round ... Image: Thanasi Kokkinakis makes it through to the last 64 at Melbourne Park for the sixth time He will face Thanasi Kokkinakis next after the Australian fought back from a set down and ...

The Australian Open is over for the locals. Some Australians impressed and others didn't live up to expectations. Here's how we graded them.

After a spirited run, Alex de Minaur was eliminated from the Australian Open at the quarter-final stage. His exit saw him become the final Aussie to fall at this year's Melbourne Park tournament. A total of 22 local hopes started the event across the men's and women's singles main draws.

Novak Djokovic surged into an Australian Open quarter-final clash against Carlos Alcaraz with a dominant victory on Sunday while women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka was a ruthless winner.

It's time for the eighth installment of the riveting, intergenerational rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic surged into an Australian Open quarterfinal clash against Carlos Alcaraz with a dominant victory on Sunday while women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka was a ruthless