CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 21, 2024

Jordan Thompson

Queens Club

Press Conference

J. THOMPSON/T. Fritz

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Jordan. It's your first semifinal at an ATP 500 tournament. How does it feel to conquer so many top players to the semifinal here?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, it's great. Really loving being back on the grass. You know, it's a really tough tournament, and to be in the semis is unbelievable for me, especially the way I have been going lately.

Good to turn it around and couldn't be in a better spot.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can I just ask a little bit about the whole season really, and this is another breakthrough. Why do you think it's happened now at the age of 30, and you have had this breakthrough season, winning a tournament and now in the semis of a 500?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I think you're always improving in tennis. Yeah, I have just been working incredibly hard with my coach Marinko and my dad and my physical trainer. Yeah, we have just been doing all the right things and working on all the right things to, you know, make my game progress.

You know, it's paying off here and there. It's a roller coaster, as everybody knows. It's a long season. I mean, the clay wasn't too kind to me, but I love the grass, always have. Turned it around this week. You just never know when it's going to be your week, so you just got to be ready and keep doing all the right things.

Q. Does it feel like potentially, just looking ahead, a fairly open Wimbledon this year? Previously there has been one player or two or three completely dominant. Obviously there is uncertainty about Novak. But for someone like you who can clearly play on grass, does it feel like it is a reasonably open tournament this year?

JORDAN THOMPSON: I haven't even really thought about it. I mean, everyone's still an incredibly good player in the top 100, and a slam is the toughest place to make a run. I mean, literally everyone is playing. Maybe someone's got an injury. Not sure if Novak is going to play or not.

But last year I run into Novak second round, and I played Nakashima first round. I think, in my opinion, that's a bloody tough draw. Nakashima has been going really well. To play him, to play Novak, is not a kind draw.

But, yeah, I haven't really thought about it. Obviously there are some clay courters in there that probably wouldn't even like play on grass, probably wouldn't even play on it until they got to Wimbledon, but I would say that would be few and far between.

Q. Is your dad here?

JORDAN THOMPSON: No.

Q. Are you able to allow yourself just to look ahead to any degree as far as this tournament or ranking? Because you're up, I think it's 38 on the live rankings, or do you really have to just think of the next match?

JORDAN THOMPSON: So far just been thinking about the next match. You know, I played Rune first round. Guy's top 20. Then got a little bit fortunate with Andy pulling out. Then played Fritz in the quarters, which is another, I mean, he's a top-10 player. He might not be at the moment, I'm not sure what his ranking is.

I feel like everyone I'm playing at this tournament is going to be inside the top 20 or top 10. Don't know the actual numbers, but yeah, just focus one match at a time, one point at a time. Never been one to look ahead.

Q. But not even generally, besides the tournament, looking ahead as far as the rest of what's coming up with Wimbledon, and I don't even know if I should say anything, you know, or how you're actually feeling or what there is the potential that there is there?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, one goal for me was to be seeded. But yeah, I really don't even know what I've got to do to do that. I probably either have to win this next match or make the final, or win the tournament.

But, yeah, because I know next week doesn't count for the rankings. Then there is also the US Open as well. The big goal this year was to be top 32, but that just means to be seeded at a slam and that's great. I got to 32 but I didn't get seeded for a slam. Yeah, that's the real goal.

Q. When did you decide that you were going to give the Olympics a miss this season? And why exactly?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, for me, it's a no-brainer. I mean, we're coming off the grass going into the hard court in America. Newport and Atlanta, it's their last years. And I really enjoy playing on the grass. So I don't want to give up playing on grass and then, you know, coming back to play on clay, which is my worst surface by a mile.

Yeah, it's pretty easy. I mean, we have been in Europe this whole time playing on grass. Then we're going into hard court. For me, it's just a tough schedule.

I mean, I'd probably have to stay in Europe and probably play on clay if I really wanted to, you know, give the Olympics a fair crack, but for me, you know, I'm defending quarters of Washington. I'm trying to get seeded at a Grand Slam, especially Wimbledon, US Open.

Yeah, that's all it is, really. Just schedule and the wrong surface for me (smiling).

Q. I just wonder whether it was something that...

JORDAN THOMPSON: No, I love representing my country, but, I mean, I think everybody knows that. But for me, it's just, on clay, it's clearly not my favorite surface. You know, it's back in Europe when the season of tennis is actually in America and getting ready to play the US Open.

Q. You said so many nice words about Andy the other day after your match. Obviously not a nice way for it to finish. I wondered how much of a miss he will be on tour and any standup memories you have of him.

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, he's a great champion. For me, his work ethic was unbelievable when I was growing up. I just thought, you know, he worked so hard to get where he is, and to be as physically fit as him just on hard work, it was like a real inspiration to me.

I'm sure he'll be missed. When I was a kid, I mean, I was watching him play US Open finals, Wimbledon finals, that many Australian Open finals. I mean, it was in my home country. I was going for him every time. He's one of my favorite players.

I got to share the court a few times with him. That was really special. I don't think many kids in the world would be watching these guys on TV and then you go out there and actually play them and share the court with them. Yeah, it's every kid's dream.

For me to fulfill those dreams and do that with one of my favorite players, it was a real honor.

Q. Was it weird trying to beat him and be in competition with him?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Not really. I don't know if it's an age thing or it's just a competitive thing. When you see someone down on the other end, I don't think you really care who they are.

Q. I don't know what the latest is, but it looks like it's likely to be Musetti. What are your thoughts?

JORDAN THOMPSON: He gave me a touchup in Adelaide. You know, he's a quality tennis player. Got beautiful strokes, good serve, great slice. He's been playing well. He's been a quality player for a long time, you know, at a young age. It's going to be tricky, but hopefully I can get him back this time if it is him.