Jordan Thompson has claimed another significant victory, setting up an all-Australian fourth-round showdown at the US Open with compatriot Alex de Minaur. Thompson, who previously upset world No. 7 Hubert Hurkacz in the second round, continued his impressive run by defeating 30th seed Matteo Arnaldi 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) on day six at Flushing Meadows. This victory secures Thompson a spot in the last 16 of the tournament for the second time in his career.
Describing the upcoming high-stakes match against his Sydney friend as “unreal,” Thompson expressed his hopes for advancing further. “For sure, an Aussie will be in the quarters. I hope that it is me,” he remarked.
Australia’s presence at the US Open is already making waves, with Alexei Popyrin also achieving a remarkable victory by defeating defending champion Novak Djokovic. This year’s Australian contingent, the largest in 43 years, has now ensured that at least two of its players will compete in the men’s last 16.
Thompson, who has been playing some of the best tennis of his career, will be a formidable opponent for De Minaur. Having won his first ATP title this year in Los Cabos and reaching the final in Atlanta, the Paris Olympian is matching his career-best performance at a Grand Slam, which he last achieved at the 2020 US Open.
Despite facing a challenge in the third set against Arnaldi, a rising star in tennis and a 2023 Italian Davis Cup winner, Thompson remained unfazed. After falling behind 4-2, he broke Arnaldi in the seventh game and recovered from a 3-0 deficit in the third-set tiebreaker to secure his victory after two hours and 33 minutes of play.
“It was a great match from me. The third round is pressure. I have not been there too much in my career,” Thompson said. “I was getting a little bit agitated there, but I dealt with it really well and came out on top. It is really pleasing to win under lights in New York on a Saturday night.”
At 30 years old, Thompson is on track to achieve a new career-high ranking within the world’s top 30. He believes he is only now reaching his peak performance. “It is hard to argue with. I feel like I am getting better as I get older,” he said. “It is definitely the best I have been playing in my career, and my results and ranking dictate that.”
Meanwhile, Chris O’Connell’s US Open journey came to an end after facing world No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Arthur Ashe Stadium. O’Connell struggled against the top-ranked player, suffering a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 defeat. “I felt like he was on from the get-go. I felt a little bit clueless, to be honest,” O’Connell admitted. “Every single shot, I just felt like I had to do something with it because he was just on me. He was suffocating me. I’ve got to believe, but I just felt that he was really on fire. The best tennis player I’ve ever played, for sure.”
Despite the loss, O’Connell can take comfort in his career-best payday of $US215,000 ($A315,000) for reaching the last 32. Meanwhile, Popyrin, the 28th seed, is set to face world No. 20 Frances Tiafoe in a prime-time fourth-round showdown on Sunday night (9am Monday AEST).
