SYDNEY TENNIS CLASSIC

January 10, 2022

Jordan Thompson

Press Conference

J. THOMPSON/M. Giron

6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Well done. Nice win. Going into the match, what was your game plan?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Just much the same as last week. Starting the new year, you don't know how you're going to be playing, so don't want to be too passive. Try to stay up on the baseline and be aggressive, look to come in, and just be a little bit more aggressive.

Q. On that point about starting a new year, have you started this year with any different goals or thoughts or targets for 2022?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I think that was it. Trying to play a little bit more of a more aggressive brand of tennis. At the end of last year, I was sort of little bit passive, too far behind the baseline, not using all my skills.

I think tennis is all about using your skills and, you know, exposing your opponents. If you can do it, you've got to do it, not just sort of rely on running and making balls. Try to make things happen.

Q. What it did it feel like on court today? You got to play on Ken Rosewall Arena. What about the conditions? A couple of the players have been saying how muggy it is out there today.

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, it's so humid in there. I mean, usually I sweat a lot, but after three games it was dripping off my hat. Usually that takes an hour or two, but it took about 15 minutes. So super muggy in there.

You know, I have played plenty of matches without the roof in there, but I think this is the first match I have played with the roof.

I have trained in there multiple, you know, probably couple hundred times with the roof, but nothing replicates a match. Yeah, I mean, I couldn't believe how humid it was in there.

Q. You were saying how many times you have played over here and trained over here. I was going to ask you, do you see these courts sort of as home courts for you?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, for sure. I grew up training here. I mean, I think the first time I came out here I would have been 10 years old. You know, I did most of my preseason here.

Yeah, we didn't get to hit on center court, but in years before, I mean, I was pretty much on center court every day, so no stranger to Homebush.

Q. You're saying about 10 years old. At the age of 10, 15 years old, do you remember who you first saw, what clicks in your mind as early memories here?

JORDAN THOMPSON: I remember coming to this tournament as a kid all the time, I think coming out and watching a couple of night matches. I remember I watched I think Baghdatis, Moya, Lleyton, watched a couple of Davis Cup matches here.

You know, every time I step on that court, I just remember as a kid, that's where I wanted to be, I wanted to be playing on the center court at Sydney Olympic Park.

Q. Next round now the tallest man in tennis for you in the next round, Reilly Opelka. You haven't played him before at a tour level, anyway. What are your thoughts going into that match?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, incredibly tough. I mean, it's so hard playing those guys. I have played Karlovic, Isner. I have played Reilly once before a long time ago at a challenger, but he's a much better player now. It never gets easier. In fact, it gets harder.

He's generally going to hold serve, he's going to knock down aces. Got to work on your reactions. One point at a time and just see how it goes.