AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 15, 2024

Jordan Thompson

Press Conference

J. THOMPSON/A. Vukic

3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Jordan, a packed Show Court 3, home Grand Slam, five-setter. Must be pretty pleased with your performance getting out of that one.

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, it's never easy playing another Aussie, Show Court 3, packed house. Yeah, it's loud, it can get rowdy, but all in all, it was pretty good. Just happy to scrape through.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congratulations. You were impressive in the fifth. He took a bit of control there in the fourth. Take us through how you were able to change momentum a little bit.

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, we played each other in Brisbane. Yeah, it was a little bit one-sided. I expected him to come out and play better, and sure enough, he did. He served well. Hit his forehand well. Didn't make too many errors.

You know, had my work cut out for me, but yeah, I don't know what got me through that. I think maybe just a little bit of luck with scoreboard pressure serving first in the fifth set.

You know, always edging in front and just keeping my nose in front. Then, yeah, scoreboard pressure, anything can happy.

Q. Excellent work at the net, too. It was clear you wanted to continue to be assertive, or looked like you were still trying to be assertive.

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, I have had most of my success moving forward. Today maybe I didn't execute perfectly to get there, but when I did, I think I would have won the majority of points.

Yeah, that was a pleasing step for me. Yeah, any opportunity to get to the net, hopefully there is more to come.

Q. You were frustrated earlier in the second set. I think the whole of Australia heard you call it the wokest tournament ever. Can you explain your frustration at that point?

JORDAN THOMPSON: No, I'm good (smiling). Heat of the battle. Probably shouldn't have said it.

Yeah, there is a few things that concerned me, but we won't go into that.

Q. You genuinely didn't know the change to the rule?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Had no idea. How many years which have we been playing tennis, and then all of a sudden they spring on us that they can come in between not even a sitdown. So it just disrupts everyone's rhythm.

I mean, if someone is walking at the back and you are throwing the ball toss up, it's impossible to see it because you have a moving person behind it.

Yeah, it's, in my opinion, it's not good. I'm choosing my words carefully.

Q. A bit frustrating for you, clearly, with lack of awareness. Must have missed the e-mail.

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah. But, yeah, I just don't understand why we would do that. We are out there working, that's our job, we're tennis players. We don't come in and storm into an office while someone is in a meeting.

Like someone is just barging through the door, making a nuisance. Even though it doesn't seem that way, but it is. It's very off-putting. That's one thing you can compare it to.

Q. Stefanos, massive game for you. You've beaten him less than 12 months ago?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, Indian Wells. Yeah, that was a battle. But he's beaten me before in Wimbledon, as well, in the second round a few years ago.

I know what I'm going up against. He's a quality player. He's a top 10-er for so long. Yeah, I mean, he always shows up. You know he's a quality champion.

Q. What's the attitude? Obviously he's one of the best players in the world. How are you feeling about your game and what's the mindset?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, probably going to have to play a little bit better than I did today. Top 10-er, he'll probably make good work of me today.

You know, it's tough playing another Aussie. You're tight, playing in Australia, first round of a Grand Slam. It's tough.

But yeah, it's going to have to be better. Top-10 level is just something different, and he's had great success. He loves these courts. Going to have to come out of the blocks a bit better.

Q. You're in the prime part of your career. Do you feel like this is a big opportunity, a big moment for you?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, for sure. Every opportunity is a big opportunity. Second round of my home Grand Slam. Only Grand Slam I haven't made it past the second round. Made third rounds, fourth rounds of the others. This one eludes me. Hopefully I can play a lot better and go well.