ATP Adelaide: Draper saves two MPs in drama-filled win over Kecmanovic

Jack Draper edged out Serb Miomir Kecmanovic 5-7, 7-6 (9), 7-6 (7) to advance to the quarter-finals of the Adelaide Open at the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre on Wednesday night.

In what is an early contender for match of the year, Draper saved two match points in the second set tiebreak against Kecmanovic. The Brit was also down 1-4 in the deciding set, before coming back to win the match in three hours, 40 minutes.

The clash was not without drama either, as Kecmanovic at one stage refused to play for several minutes when he was denied a medical timeout during a tiebreak. Draper also received a controversial call, with the umpire ruling a ball that got stuck in the net tape in favour of the world No 62.

Throw in 82 winners and some breath-taking rallies, and already this was a match for the ages.

Draper will play the winner of the match between American Tommy Paul, the top seed, and Australian qualifier Alex Bolt next.

In the previous round of the Adelaide tournament, Jack Draper won against Argentinian Sebastian Baez, the No 5 seed (6-1, 6-3). Kecmanovic, ranked No 55, defeated American Mackenzie McDonald (6-4, 6-2) in the previous round of the Adelaide tournament.

Adelaide ATP 250, other second-round results (Memorial Drive Tennis Centre, hard, USD 661.585, most recent results first):

• Lorenzo Musetti vs. Jordan Thompson
• Daniel Evans vs. Alexander Bublik
• Jiri Lehecka vs. Dusan Lajovic
• Tommy Paul vs. Alex Bolt: wednesday
• Lorenzo Sonego vs. Sebastian Korda: wednesday
• Nicolas Jarry (2) beat Matteo Arnaldi: 6-7 (5), 7-6 (7), 6-4
• Christopher O’Connell (WC) beat Alexander Shevchenko: 6-3, 6-1