Adversity on the Singles Path
For a tournament that ended on such a high note for Jordan Thompson, it wasn’t all pretty from the jump.
After making relatively quick work of Ernesto Escobedo and Emilio Nava in the opening two rounds, Thompson found himself matched up with Alex Michelsen in the quarterfinal.
As the seeded player, Thompson was favoured against the young American. However, from the start it was obvious this was not going to be a walk in the park.
Michelsen blitzed Thompson in the first set, winning handily 6-0.
Thompson then found himself down 3-1 and 15-40 on his serve in set two. He suddenly rattled off eight straight points to hold and then break Michelsen at love.
Eventually, down 6-5 but serving, Thompson would have to fight off three match points before sending the set to a tiebreaker which he won handily, 7-1.
Michelsen again broke early in the third set and carried his lead up until 5-4 while he was serving for the match. At this point, Thompson went on another eight-point run, breaking and then holding at love to take a 6-5 lead.
He then broke again to take the set 7-5 and in turn the match.
Thompson would then play another absolute classic against Alex Zverev in the semi-final. The pair battled for three hours and 40 minutes in what was the longest ever match at the tournament. Eventually, Thompson was victorious, winning 7-5, 4-6, 7(7)-6(2).
He then took on Casper Ruud in the final and had a much easier time. Seemingly not tired at all from his previous two matches, Thompson took it to the three-time grand slam finalist.
He won the match 6-3, 7(7)-6(4). Thompson again played his best when the stakes were at their highest converting all three of his break points while limiting Ruud to just 2/13 of his.
The win gave Thompson his first ever ATP singles title.
Thompson Bounces Back Right Away for Doubles with Purcell
Essentially immediately after his trophy ceremony for winning the singles draw, Jordan Thompson was back on the court for the doubles semi-final in which he was again facing Ruud.
Thompson and Max Purcell were matched up with Ruud and partner William Blumberg.
After a close first set that saw the Aussies prevail in a tiebreak, they raised their level in set two and won handily 6-3.
Their reward for the effort was returning right back to the court once more for the doubles final against Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov.
At 5-5 in the first set, the Aussie duo found the matches first break and then calmly served out the set.
They immediately broke again in the first game of the second set but were unable to keep their lead as just three games later they gave the break back.
The set was eventually sent to a tiebreaker in which some big serving won the match for Purcell and Thompson 7-5, 7(7)-6(2).
Two Titles, Four Matches in One Day Makes this an All-Time Run
The run for Thompson is nothing short of extraordinary. He not only won his first ATP singles title at 29, making him one of the oldest to ever do so, but also won the doubles title at the same tournament.
To make this even more impressive, he did so by playing four matches in just 26 hours and the final three matches in a six-hour span.
It was an absolute dream weekend for Jordan Thompson.
