Jack Draper overcame a battling performance from qualifier Vit Kopriva to advance at the Italian Open in Rome after Emma Raducanu impressed to continue her own winning run.
Draper was frustrated by the unheralded Czech, who showed serious defensive skill to stay in the fight despite a comparative lack of firepower on serve and with his strokeplay. The British No 1 played aggressively and held serve through, breaking thrice to take a 6-4, 6-3 win, though his victory was not without incident as the left-hander first slammed and then hurled his racquet midway through the second set after passing up a number of break points. Corentin Moutet will be next for Draper as he targets more clay-court success.
