AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2024

Jordan Thompson

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/J. Thompson

4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Jordan, tough break. Great match against Stefanos. How do you reflect on the match?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, it's tough. The guy is a top-10 player. There were two tiebreakers in there. Won the first set and lost the second. In the first two sets I didn't get broken. Then, yeah, lose a little pace on serve when the conditions get a little bit slower and colder, sun goes away. Yeah, he really picked up his game then. I lost a little bit of pace on my shots.

Fought as hard as I could. I know I was down 5-4, 40-15 in the fourth set, but I still had four set points of my own. I think four. At least three. I got a little unlucky on one of them.

Fought until the very end.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. There must be a sense of pride. Totally took all the momentum in the match there in the third. Didn't get the chocolates but...

JORDAN THOMPSON: After that second set I just felt like I was really back against the wall and doing everything I can. His level lifted a lot. He kept hitting through the court. His forehand is huge. He served well. Yeah, so I just hung around as long as I could and just gave myself that chance. Yeah, nearly sent it to a fifth, but he is a quality player, and he didn't let it happen.

Q. Seemed to be making a lot of errors in the first set which you controlled. Can you explain what you were trying to do there? You were able to restrict him in a way.

JORDAN THOMPSON: There was a lot more heat in the court in the first set. It was much bouncier, faster. I was coming at him. Actually felt I returned quite well for the whole match. My serve was jumping at the start, and I was getting into the court and forcing the issue.

When someone is coming at you, it's easy to make errors, but it's easy to adjust also. Yeah, credit to him.

Q. Take some confidence out of that moving forward from here?

JORDAN THOMPSON: For sure. I've lost to good players this summer. It's been a positive summer. Shame to not get through to the third round. This slam still eludes me of that. That's disappointing.

Yeah, my tennis is at a higher level than it was last year, I guess.

Q. Do you think there's a bubble of talent there coming through in Australian tennis?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, we've got a lot of guys. When I came in and did my cool-down, I saw Alexei was a set all and three set points in a row. Didn't quite get there. I mean, that's positive signs too. He has the World No. 1 on the ropes.

We're all pressing forward. Macksie got a win yesterday. Rinky, Kubes. They're all playing quality tennis, and we're all pushing each other, which is very positive.

Maybe we shouldn't be looking there. We should be looking at our juniors to see who is coming up there and see if we can get more, maybe more younger guys playing tennis.

It's easy to look at the top, but we have to look at the bottom as well, the juniors.

Q. Alex has had some big victories recently. Do you feel like he can make a real charge for it this year?

JORDAN THOMPSON: I haven't seen his draw, but he's a top-10'er now, and he is going deep in a lot of Grand Slams. I think he can keep going deeper and deeper if he keeps at it, and I know he will. He is a fighter. He always shows up.

Yeah, I hope he does.