Australian Open 2025: Jack Draper survives major five-set scare to beat Mariano Navone in first round

Jack Draper was given a real scare as he battled back to beat Mariano Navone in five sets at the Australian Open.

The British number made 88 unforced errors in an untidy performance, perhaps to be expected with this being his first match since October after he missed a training block and then the United Cup earlier this month due to a hip injury.

However, Draper ensured he did not fall at the first hurdle in Melbourne, as the 15th seed earned a 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-3 win over Argentinian Navone in four hours and one minute. He will face Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round.

Having reached the semi-finals of the US Open in the final Grand Slam of 2024, expectation is high for Draper as he looks to kick on and solidify his place among the game’s elite, even if this was only his second main-draw win at the Australian Open.

The cooler conditions ensured there was no repeat of Draper’s on-court sickness from his first-round win in Melbourne a year ago, but the wind provided its own challenges.

The 23-year-old made a slow start, with 23 unforced errors to go with only seven winners in the opening set, as Navone took full advantage of facing a misfiring opponent.

Draper responded well to level the match up and then broke in the first game of the third set, but Navone responded immediately and at 5-3 stepped up to serve for it.

Draper saved two set points and then brought up three break points to get it back on serve, though he could convert none of them as his opponent moved within a set of victory.

Again the Briton broke early in a set and again he gave it straight back, before Draper then found the decisive break in the eighth game of the set. He held to 15 to take the fourth set and send the match to a decider.

After a disrupted pre-season this was a real test of Draper’s fitness, but it was Navone who began to struggle and needed a medical timeout. Draper moved a double break up and ensured there was no further drama, wrapping up victory to set up a clash with home favourite Kokkinakis.