A semifinalist in his final go to to Pat Rafter Enviornment, Jordan Thompson scored one other memorable win on the 2025 version of the Brisbane Worldwide, this time over former world No.6 Matteo Berrettini.
Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 30 December 2024 | Dan Imhoff
So far as unseeded match-hardened floaters within the Brisbane Worldwide draw go, Jordan Thompson is aware of they don’t come a lot more durable than Matteo Berrettini, one of many heroes of Italy’s current Davis Cup triumph.
With the house crowd in his nook, the eighth-seeded Australian although was as much as activity after he overcame a sluggish begin in opposition to the previous world No.6 to open his marketing campaign with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory.
“I simply tried to provide him a unique look on serve. Clearly, he was serving unbelievably firstly and wasn’t lacking many first serves,” Thompson stated. “I assumed I’d attempt to throw him off his rhythm. I feel I may need simply jagged a fortunate break and perhaps simply received it began.
“It’s tough. Typically it’s actually arduous to seek out his backhand. He’s a giant body and he’s received an enormous serve and large forehand. Making an attempt to pin him in that backhand nook’s not as simple because it sounds.
“I feel I can credit score my motion, simply making an attempt to counterpunch, , a sooner strike and I really feel like I can get on prime of the rally.”
Enormous! @jordanthommmo2 rallies from a set all the way down to defeat Matteo Berrettini!
Onto the subsequent one, Thommo!#BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/c9g9qoIc7y
— Brisbane Worldwide (@BrisbaneTennis) December 30, 2024
Berrettini was trying to proceed his resurgence following a foot harm that minimize quick his 2023 season.
He was keen to interrupt Australian hearts once more after eking out a win over Thanasi Kokkinakis within the Davis Cup semifinals in Malaga final month on his solution to guiding his nation to a profitable Davis Cup title defence.
The 28-year-old prevailed in his solely prior encounter with Thompson within the opening spherical of the 2019 US Open however each had remodeled since, the Sydneysider in a breakout 2024 season wherein he snared a primary profession title at Los Cabos and cracked the highest 30.
Thompson held fond recollections of a run to the semifinals in Brisbane final January when he saved a match level in opposition to Rafael Nadal within the quarterfinals in what grew to become the Spaniard’s closing match on Australian soil.
“He’s considered one of my childhood heroes and taking him down on this courtroom in a quarterfinal on a Friday night time actually kickstarted my yr,” he stated, earlier than he jokingly tipped his hat to a closing exclamation mark that rounded out his season. “Then I went and educated with the Wests Tigers and that simply boosted it much more.”
One other large server, 20-year-old Alex Michelsen, awaits.
The American earlier saved a match level and transformed on his fifth to sneak previous Thompson’s compatriot Christopher O’Connell 6-4 4-6 7-6(12).
In an earlier all-Australian encounter at Pat Rafter Enviornment, Kimberly Birrell arrange a second-round showdown in opposition to No.2 seed Emma Navarro following a three-set win over good good friend and former observe accomplice Priscilla Hon.
Having trailed a set and 3-1 within the second set, 26-year-old Birrell gained 3-6 7-5 6-2.
