Vukic’s major high: Unheralded Aussie breaks grand slam hoodoo

Aleks Vukic thinks his five-set victory over Seb Korda on a rollicking Kia Arena is right up there in terms of the best win of his career.

He’s made a grand slam third round for the first time.

“I think so,” the world No.68 said after his 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over the American late on day four at Melbourne Park.

“I think in terms of the situation, in terms of the atmosphere, in terms of everything.

“I think being down two sets to one against a great player in Korda, and fighting back when things weren’t looking too good for me then and making my first third round, yeah, it’s got to be the best or one of the best, for sure.

“In any case breaking through the second round hoodoo was significant.”

It took around six hours from first point until last point for Aleks Vukic to defeat Seb Korda ... thanks to Melbourne rain delays.

“I kind of just got some food in just in case it went five [sets]. I just had some chicken and rice. I stayed with my coach and fitness coach. We stayed in a room and chilled,” he said.

“We were playing some music, really just trying to relax. We didn’t know what was going to happen, kind of like anyone. I was kind of switched off. Came back, and we were off again basically.”

He will now play Jack Draper in the third round after the Brit beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in five sets.

2015
Australian Open
R1: d Ernests Gulbis 5-7, 6-0, 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 8-6
R2: lost to Sam Groth 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
French Open
R2: d Bernard Tomic 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 8-6
US Open
R1: lost to Richard Gasquet 4-6, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 2-0 (retired)

2017 - US Open
R1: lost to Janko Tipsarevic 6-7 (5-7), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3

2021
Australian Open
R2: lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (5-7) 6-4

2023
Australian Open
R2: lost to Andy Murray 4-6, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 7-5
French Open
R2: d Stan Wawrinka 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3

2024
Australian Open
R1: d Sebastian Ofner 7-6 (7-1), 2-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 7-6 (10-8)
French Open
R1: d Alexei Popyrin 4-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
R2: d Giulio Zeppieri 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
R3: lost to Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 5-7, 6-3
Wimbledon
R1: d Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7, 7-6 (11-9), 6-4, 6-4

2025
Australian Open
R2: lost to Jack Draper 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3

Aleks Vukic thinks his five-set victory over Seb Korda on a rollicking Kia Arena is right up there in terms of the best win of his career.

He’s made a grand slam third round for the first time.

“I think so,” the world No.68 said after his 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over the American late on day four at Melbourne Park.

“I think in terms of the situation, in terms of the atmosphere, in terms of everything.

“I think being down two sets to one against a great player in Korda, and fighting back when things weren’t looking too good for me then and making my first third round, yeah, it’s got to be the best or one of the best, for sure.

“In any case breaking through the second round hoodoo was significant.”

It took around six hours from first point until last point for Aleks Vukic to defeat Seb Korda ... thanks to Melbourne rain delays.

“I kind of just got some food in just in case it went five [sets]. I just had some chicken and rice. I stayed with my coach and fitness coach. We stayed in a room and chilled,” he said.

“We were playing some music, really just trying to relax. We didn’t know what was going to happen, kind of like anyone. I was kind of switched off. Came back, and we were off again basically.”

He will now play Jack Draper in the third round after the Brit beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in five sets.

All of a sudden Kokkinakis has a custard arm.

He is barely getting his first serve over the 170km/h mark. In that game he patted down two slice serves to the forehand court that did not even break 150km/h.

There is no doubt it is down to his crook shoulder. But he is still managing to find a way, squaring this fifth and deciding set 3-3.

Draper to serve.

It almost feels like the calm before the storm, even though we are right at the pointy end of this five-set marathon.

Brit Jack Draper held serve in what was a lacklustre game to take a 3-2 lead in this deciding set.

Thanasi Kokkinakis needs to hold here, and then force a break. It’s hard to know how much pain he is in with the shoulder, but he has just patted in a 147km/h first serve. That’s something you might see on the suburban courts, but not often on the big stage.

The match has now been going four hours and 16 minutes.

How are the nerves, Kokkinakis fans?

The match is locked at two sets all and 1-1 in the fifth set.

Brit Jack Draper is serving to take a 2-1 lead against our Aussie hope.

Young Aussie Talia Gibson has been knocked out of the Open. The 20-year-old lost her second-round battle against Spanish No.11 seed Paula Badosa in 48 minutes 6-1, 6-0.

There will be lots of lessons to be learned from this one, and at least she made it into the second round and should pick up a lazy $200k for her efforts.

On Rod Laver Arena: German Alexander Zverev cruised through his match against Spaniard Pedro Martinez, winning 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.

On 1573 Arena: Japan’s Kei Nishikori is starting to lag behind Tommy Paul. The American leads 6-7, 6-0, 4-2.