Thompson Enjoying Breakthrough Season

Australian men’s tennis is enjoying a resurgence with Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios ranked comfortably inside the Top 30 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, but 21-year-old Jordan Thompson has produced impressive results on the ATP Challenger Tour that show he could soon be ready to join them.

The World No. 117 has more than cut his ranking in half over the last 12 months with a series of strong performances. After reaching the final last year at Challenger events in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and Traralgon, Australia, Thompson broke through last month by winning his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Cherbourg, France. The victory was even more impressive since the Australian was forced to save two match points in his quarter-final against Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

“It was very exciting. You play a lot of tournaments and you’re lucky to win one,” said Thompson, who is the No. 8 seed at this week’s ATP Challenger Tour event in Shenzhen, China. “I took a lot of confidence by winning my first Challenger and beating those top players.”

Thompson has spent the last few years training in Brisbane alongside fellow Aussies James Duckworth, John Millman and Benjamin Mitchell, but made a move earlier this year to Melbourne. But with plenty of top Australian players training there, Thompson will have plenty of motivation to continue pushing himself up the rankings.

“It’s best if we try and push each other,” said Thompson. “Nick (Kyrgios) just won his first ATP Tour title, Omar (Jasika) is very talented and Blake (Mott) just won his first challenger. It inspires young guys to be at that level and also just start playing tennis.”

His play has even attracted the attention of former world No. 1 and new Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who invited the rising star to practice with him at his house in Sydney and the Australian Open. But while Thompson freely admits that playing under Hewitt “would be a honor,” he has some more immediate targets in sight for the rest of the season.

“I think it’s every player’s goal to be in the Top 100 and it’s my goal for sure as well,” said Thompson. “The ultimately goal is to try and play as many Grand Slams as possible. That’s where the money is and this is my job now.”