Jordan Thompson joins Thanasi Kokkinakis, Aleksandar Vukic, Chris O’Connell and Max Purcell within the ATP 250 occasion, whereas Astra Sharma makes her Prague debut
Atlanta, United States, 22 July 2024 | Dan Imhoff
As Australia’s Olympic tennis workforce makes a return to clay in Paris, Jordan Thompson heads a five-strong contingent of compatriots switching to North American arduous courts this week in Atlanta.
The world No.40, a quarterfinalist three years in the past, is making his fifth look on the ATP 250 occasion, the place his compatriots have scooped the trophy in three of the previous seven years.
Two years in the past, Alex de Minaur collected his second Atlanta crown, three years after his first, whereas Nick Kyrgios triumphed in 2016 over six-time champion John Isner.
Thompson, who reached his first ATP 500 semifinal on the Queen’s Membership with wins over the likes of Holger Rune and Taylor Fritz on the eve of Wimbledon, was relishing a return to US arduous courts.
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“The large objective this 12 months was to be prime 32, however that simply means to be seeded at a slam and that’s nice. I acquired to 32 however I didn’t get seeded for a slam. Yeah, that’s the actual objective,” Thompson mentioned.
“We’re coming off the grass going into the arduous court docket in America – Newport and Atlanta, it’s their final years… I imply, we have now been in Europe this complete time taking part in on grass. Then we’re going into arduous court docket. For me, it’s only a powerful schedule (so as to add the Olympics)… For me, I’m defending quarters of Washington. I’m attempting to get seeded at a Grand Slam… Yeah, that’s all it’s, actually. Simply schedule and the improper floor for me.”
Following the heartache of shedding the Wimbledon doubles closing alongside compatriot Max Purcell, having held three championship factors, the pair reunites this week as prime seeds within the doubles in Atlanta, the place they reached the ultimate final 12 months.
Each are seeded in singles the place fourth seed Thompson awaits the winner of world No.88 and fellow Aussie, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Croatian Borna Coric, whereas eighth seed Purcell opens towards compatriot Chris O’Connell.
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The 84th-ranked Coric is unbeaten in three conferences towards his South Australian opponent – all on arduous courts – together with the Davis Cup semifinals two years in the past.
O’Connell claimed the honours in his solely prior assembly with fellow Sydneysider Purcell within the opening spherical of final 12 months’s US Open.
In 2023, Aleksandar Vukic reached his first tour-level semifinal and closing back-to-back earlier than he got here up wanting changing into the fourth Australian champion in Atlanta towards Fritz.
The world No.65 will face world No.145 Mattia Bellucci, an Italian who certified for his second straight occasion, having executed so at Wimbledon.
On the heels of a win over fellow Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic for her first WTA quarterfinal since 2022 in Palermo final week, Astra Sharma makes her Prague most important draw debut on Monday when she meets sixth seed Magdalena Frech within the opening spherical.
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