Brit Jack Draper vomits into bin and writhes in agony after securing epic first-ever Australian Open win
JACK DRAPER vomited into a bin and writhed in agony after securing his first-ever Australian Open win.
The Brit, 22, came from behind to beat American Marcos Giron in five gruelling sets in the intense Melbourne heat.
Draper eventually prevailed 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-0 6-2 in three hours and 20 minutes on Court 8.
And that saw him earn his maiden victory at Melbourne Park after losing to Rafael Nadal 12 months ago, following Cameron Norrie into round two on Tuesday.
However, the 31C temperatures Down Under clearly took their toll on the Sutton leftie.
Draper sealed the win in style with a long, scrambling point ending with a clean forehand winner up the line.
He immediately keeled over as he took in the moment before jogging to the net to shake hands, clearly in a hurry.
Draper then leant over the net, urging Giron to rush towards him quicker.
Then as soon as they clasped hands, the hulking 6ft 4ins Brit ran past the umpire’s chair and dashed to a courtside bin in dramatic scenes.
And within moments, Draper bent over the bin and puked into it as the physicality of the Australian Open contest was laid bare.
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Draper – who had his blood pressure checked after calling a medical time-out for a tight chest during the marathon tennis match – recovered to take his seat and was visibly in agony.
He ripped his top off and looked in serious discomfort after suffering abdominal cramps.
Draper admitted it was not the ending he wanted after wrapping up the victory before explaining anxiety and stress under pressure triggered the problems.
The world No55, who plays another American, 14th seed Tommy Paul, in round two, said: “I kind of felt bad because I obviously just beat the guy, and I was saying, ‘I need to shake your hand, mate, but I need to get to that bin.’
“For me, it feels like my breathing starts to really struggle, and I can’t get the oxygen in me.
“You are not only playing the guy, you are almost competing against yourself because you’re not obviously feeling 100 per cent.
“That’s something I’m going to have to speak to someone about and try and sort of figure out methods in those situations — because it will happen again for sure — to try to calm me down.”
Draper added: “It (pain) was referring to my back, and I just felt I couldn’t really hold myself up. I think that’s what stress does to you.
“Always first round you feel a little bit more out of breath. It’s obviously because of the tension. I think that’s most players. I had it in Miami when I collapsed a few years ago.
“Obviously that shows the improvement that I’m able to kind of take more suffering and deal with it (now).”