DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 22, 2022

Jordan Thompson

Team Australia

Press Conference

J. THOMPSON/T. Griekspoor

4-6, 7-5, 6-3

Team Australia - 1

Team Netherlands - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Well done. That was quite a battle out there. Your thoughts on the encounter?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, it was a battle, that's for sure. Yeah, a little bit of a nervous start, but he was playing well.

Yeah, Davis Cup is a different pressure but managed to turn the match around. Fought my way through it. Yeah, gave us a 1-Love lead.

Q. He was really keeping you under pressure the whole way. What do you think got you over the line?

JORDAN THOMPSON: I think serve and return was massive. Ran down a couple of balls when it mattered, but I think the two biggest things were serving and returning. Put a lot of pressure on his service games. Even if he held games, I felt like I was making a lot of returns.

You know, I was hanging in there with a lot of first serves. I was spreading the court, hitting different spots and mixing it up. I'd say those two things.

Q. You had some breakpoints midway through the second. You weren't able to convert those. Then when you finally did to break and win that second set, was there just a sense of relief?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I think I had maybe four consecutive games where I had a breakpoint and didn't convert. But I also held a couple of mammoth games, as well.

Then, yeah, 6-5 managed to sneak a backhand pass and take the set. I don't think that was any relief. I mean, it's just one set all and there is another set to go.

You know, physically I felt pretty good, and he looked like he was getting a little bit tired. He was on his haunches a few times. Yeah, that gave me a bit of confidence.

Q. Biceps have developed, haven't they?

JORDAN THOMPSON: I only pull that out for Davis Cup (smiling).

Q. How important do you think it's to get the first point of the tie?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, incredibly important. We don't want to be sending Demon out there 1-0 down and all the pressure to keep the tie alive. Now hopefully he can play a good match and seal the victory for us.

Q. Just wondering when you found out you were going to play this match today and what that conversation was like with Lleyton?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, I was extremely honored. I've been practicing well. I did all the work. I'm glad to have got the victory for Australia. It's a lot of pressure playing Davis Cup. Yeah, I'm just happy to get the win. Hopefully the team can win now.

Q. You haven't played this competition for a couple of years. Did you miss it?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, of course. I'd do anything to win the green and gold. I hadn't played since 2020 in March. I played a good match there but haven't been back in the team since. To be here in the quarterfinals and get us off to a 1-Love lead, yeah, couldn't be happier.

Q. What's it like having Lleyton on the bench? Seems like a team led by Lleyton Hewitt couldn't be anything but showing a lot of fighting spirit. What are your thoughts about that?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, for sure. I know me and Alex, we looked up to Lleyton. I think probably both our tennis idol. To see him on the side of the court and having the same, I guess, fighting spirit is, I'm sure he loves to see it. When he's on the sideline, I couldn't feel more comfortable.