Jack Draper hit with warning after destroying racket in 'meltdown' at Italian Open

received a code violation warning after obliterating his racket during a "meltdown". The world No. 5 was firmly in control during his third-round match at the Italian Open and led Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva by a set and a break. But he wasn't happy when he failed to convert more break points in the second set.

Draper hurled his racket to the ground as fans on the SuperTennis Arena jeered him, and he chucked it again when he returned to his bench for the changeover. It left significant marks in the court, and Sky Sports commentator Annabel Croft said the Brit had started to "have a bit of a meltdown".

The Brit was comfortably in the driver's seat when he faced Kopriva in the third round of the Italian Open. Draper took the opening set 6-4 and broke his opponent in a marathon game at the beginning of set two.

But he wanted to extend his lead, and he had four more break point opportunities while leading 3-1. The world No. 92 saved them all and kept himself hot on Draper's heels with a single break deficit.

Draper was furious with himself and destroyed his racket in the middle of the court. He threw it one more time for good measure during the changeover and the umpire announced that he had received a code violation.

"Four break points have gone and Draper not happy, smashing the racket which we didn't see. And it's gone again. Perfectionist. Still leading by a break," Jonathan Overend said on Sky Sports.

A slow-motion replay showed Draper slamming his equipment into the ground, leaving behind some dents.

"In the centre of the court there and it went again when he got back to his chair and you can see the marks in the clay, there they are, that's the impact," Overend continued.

"If the ball hits one of those, who knows what's going to happen to it? It's not going to be a smooth bounce, that's for sure.

"We haven't seen much of that from Draper, have we? That's testament to how he's been playing. Can he shake that from his system?"

Play resumed, with Kopriva heading to the side of the court that Draper had just damaged. "I'm wondering whether he's gone down there and tried to repair that because you certainly wouldn't want a ball landing in those marks he's created," Croft said.

The frustration continued for Draper while serving in the very next game, as he lost the point, and Croft added: "He's really having a bit of a meltdown here."

The fifth seed dug himself out of a hole, coming from 0-40 down to hold serve and maintain his lead.

Draper finally managed to get another break as Kopriva served to stay in it at 5-3. The 23-year-old converted his third match point to book his spot in the last 16 and set up a meeting with Corentin Moutet.