Australian Open 2025: Jack Draper avoids first round scare after ...

"It (my body) held up fine," he added. "I haven't played loads of tennis, I only started playing points this week and my body wasn't great for the whole of December.

"It's a big spike in my load playing a four hour match but I think the best set I played was the last set and that's when I felt the best, so that's a real positive."

It was a slow start for the Brit who struggled to find his rhythm and timing, resulting in him making an uncharacteristic 88 unforced errors across the match compared to just 53 winners.

Draper fought back to draw level after dropping the opening set, but that only fuelled the Argentine’s hunger more as he recovered from an early break in the third to take a two set to one lead over the 2024 US Open semi-finalist.

The Brit, who is currently sitting at a career high ranking of world No.15, kept his cool after a nervy start to the fourth before breaking Navone later on to take us to a fifth and deciding set.

With physical difficulties beginning to creep in for Navone, Draper capitalised on his opponent’s struggles as he broke to love before going on to seal the double break with a backhand pass down the line that sparked him alive.

Stepping up to serve for the match, the big-serving lefty slammed down two aces on his way to securing a gutsy victory.

His win now sees Draper set up a second round clash against home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis. The pair have met on three occasions, with the Brit edging the head-to-head 2-1.