MELBOURNE: Aleksandar Vukic lost the match but won admirers around the world after playing "some of the best tennis you will see" in a gruelling five set epic against Jack Draper that finished on Saturday morning.
Vukic flies under the radar for Australian tennis fans with Nick Kyrgios, Alex de Minaur, Thanasi Kokkinakis and others hogging the headlines instead.
But the 28-year-old late bloomer went agonisingly close to reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open after losing the last two sets in tiebreaks at an entranced Margaret Court Arena.
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Jack Draper of Great Britain embraces Aleksandar Vukic of Australia following victory. Getty
"What a match that was last night… as good as it gets," Great Britain's Mark Petchey said on Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.
"The end of the fourth set was some of the best tennis you will see.
"Vukic hit a volley on break point down at 6-5, that I swear, if Johnny Mac (John McEnroe) had hit, you would have been talking about it for about a century.
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"It was stunning tennis, great effort from both of them. I feel for Vukic, that's the furthest he's been in a slam. The Aussie was magnificent. It's just such a brutal sport at times."
Both Vukic and Draper had played five setters in their opening two matches as well.
The Aussie admitted both players were "buggered" at the end of the match, which finished just before 1am.
"I have nothing to be ashamed of – I played a really good match from my end. I left it all out there," Vukic said.
"Jack is an incredible competitor who I have a lot of respect for. Unfortunately, one of us had to win, so congrats to him. It's one of those that I'll take a lot of confidence from moving forward for the rest of the year… I can't be disappointed with how I played or how I competed."
British hope Draper will now play Carlos Alcaraz while as for Vukic?
"Maybe to the hospital to get a drip, that might be a good start," Grand Slam Daily host Chris Stubbs quipped.
Vukic will actually be back on court for the doubles with James Duckworth against compatriots Luke Saville and Li Tu on Saturday.
He is ranked No.68 in the world in singles and Petchey felt he had the game to climb higher.
Aleksandar Vukic of Australia celebrates a point. Getty
Vukic's career best ranking is 48th in 2023.
"He's 28, coming off the best couple of wins of his career at the back end of last year," Petchey said.
"Against (Frances) Tiafoe, 15 in the world, Casper Ruud, his first top 10er. He's got to take a lot of confidence but also when you've been that tantalisingly close to the fourth (round) – I know the sun's come up today, but he probably isn't seeing it."
