Jack Draper vomits in a bin as Brits charge into second round – Aus Open overnight wrap

Cam Norrie started a baking Day Three of the Australian Open with Britain’s first singles win before Jack Draper won his first ever five-set match – and then ran to a courtside bin to throw up after taking his second match point.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek beat a former champion here and then ingratiated herself with the locals by praising an Aussie legend in her post-match interview.

Casper Ruud revealed an unknown interest in interior design after the Norwegian secured his opening win.

And the Tsitispas brothers did not like the noise and movement on Court 6 as they lost their opening doubles match on the party court.

Express Sport rounds up what you may have missed overnight…

British No. 1 gets first victory

Jodie Burrage and Andy Murray lost on the first two days in Melbourne Park but Cam Norrie got the first win on the board by winning the first match in the 1573 Arena.

Starting at 11am with temperatures topping 30 degrees, the No. 19 beat Peru’s world No. 81 Juan Pablo Varillas 6-4 6-4 6-2 in two hours and 15 minutes.

“I do like playing in the warmer conditions when it’s bouncy, the ball’s bouncing around and it’s travelling,” he said. “I like to play first, as well. So I was coming from Auckland and in the right time zone to play first. I was up pretty early. I think it was hot, but I think I managed it, and I felt better and better as the match progressed. I think I really did the basics well today.

“Especially managed my service games well and I think that was the difference in the match. It was not easy to play at all. It was really quick conditions, and the court was moving around quite a lot with the wind. Happy to be through.” The 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist will face Italian Giulio Zeppieri.

Sick win for Draper in the heat

British No. 4 Draper lost in four sets to Rafa Nadal on his Australian Open debut last year. But the 22-year-old, who missed Wimbledon with a shoulder injury, has since reached the fourth round for the US Open and reached two ATP Tour finals.

And in searing heat on Court 8, he needed medical timeouts after losing the second and third sets before battling back to beat Marcos Giron 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-0 6-2 in three hours and 20 minutes.

It is the first time he has ever played a five-set match and as soon as he hit a running forehand winner to take his second match point, he briefly shook hands with the American before running to the courtside bin. He then needed time back on his chair before leaving the court.

Iga in 17th heaven

The 2020 champion Sofia Kenin served for the first set at 5-4 before the Polish superstar resumed normal service to win 7-6 6-2. It is her 17th consecutive singles win dating back to October as she seeks a fifth Grand Slam title – and first here.

Speaking in her courtside interview, the world No. 1 did her popularity no harm by saying her predecessor at the top of the rankings – Ash Barty – had inspired her to improve her game.

“Ash changed my mindset going into 2022 and I think that was like a breakthrough for me,” said Swiatek. “I was a top-ten player but I was feeling she had such a great game that even though I knew what she was going to play, it was still tough to play against her and win points.

“I felt it was one of the reasons I became world No.1 because I just felt I had more variety because I started practising this sort of stuff to be able to play against her. I don’t know if I would be world No.1 if she. were still playing but for sure she was huge inspiration.”

Barty retired in March 2022 aged 25 less than two months after winning the title here.

Party Court problems

Innovations at this Australian Open include the new bar area at Court Six with loud music and fans being able to enter their seats during play and not wait for the changeover.

It is not a combination which pleased Stefanos and Petros as they lost their opening doubles match to Daniel Altmaier and Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela on the self-styled “Party Court”.

No. 7 singles seed Stefanos Tsitsipas said the changes were trying to “modernise tennis” and make it more “entertainment style” but he added: “When you’re trying to zone in, get in the zone, it’s difficult when you see movement and when you see stuff happening around you.

“There is a tiny little yellow ball flying around, and it requires your concentration sometimes over 100 per cent. If that can affect you at five per cent, we’re in trouble. I’m not a huge fan of it. That’s why Wimbledon is one of my favourite tournaments, because there is silence and you can just concentrate and focus on your game.”

His younger brother Petros added: “It’s a very weird concept, in my opinion. It’s way too accessible, in a way, for the public. It was a bit noisy, as well, so it’s not so easy to concentrate. You could hear it in, let’s say, a little bit. You can realise it two, three times inside the match that it can be a bit distracting. You just need to be able to, as a tennis player, to block it out and perform.”

Casper’s unusual call

After beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the opening match in the Margaret Court Arena for the loss of only five games, the No. 11 seed was asked if he had any plans to go out in Melbourne tonight.

The Norwegian replied that he had to stay in because he had a Zoom call with his interior designer after buying a new house back home in Snaroya.

Ruud explained: “In the end we are humans as well, so we have things to deal with. Currently I got a new place last year and I have to do some renovating. The only fitting time was tonight at 10pm, so there’s going to be a Zoom call that I have to decide a few different materials and so on. It’s actually something I enjoy.

“My mother is an interior designer, as well, so ever since I was young I was quite into it. I’ve done a few projects in the past back home in Norway. This is for my own personal use. I like to try to stay in the zone in the Grand Slam, but just, you know, a 30-minute call in one evening shouldn’t be a problem.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s small things that we do outside the tennis court that can be, in a way, helping when you’re playing.”