Australian Jordan Thompson one win away from $1.3m payday after eliminating top seed Alexander Zverev
- Australian Jordan Thompson is in the final of the Los Cabos Open
- Thompson stunned top seed Alexander Zverev in the semifinals
- It was his fourth Top-10 victory and his second against Zverev
Jordan Thompson’s impressive performance at the ATP’s Los Cabos Open continues, with the Australian recording a stunning three-set semi-final victory over top seed Alexander Zverev.
The 29-year-old took three hours and 42 minutes to triumph 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7-2) on Saturday (AEDT) and is now one step closer to a first ATP Tour title and the $AUD 1.3 million prize offered for the tournament champion.
It was Thompson’s fourth Top-10 victory and his second against Zverev, whom he also defeated in Tokyo last October.
“I think it’s just a miracle,” Thompson said of his Mexican run, which included a fightback from 6-0 to 3-0 in the quarter-final against American teenager Alex Michelsen.
“I never thought I’d be here.”
The Australian dismissed the world number 6 to earn his place in the final of the Los Cabos Open
It was Thompson’s fourth Top-10 victory and his second against Zverev
Thompson, seeking his third tour-level final, dropped serve twice in the opening set but broke three times to take serve in 76 minutes.
His German opponent got the only break of the second set in the fifth game, setting up a decider where both were unbreakable, forcing a tiebreak.
Thompson raced to a 6-1 lead in the breaker before making it 7-2.
‘It took over three and a half hours. It was just a great match and I fought until the end. I really don’t know what to say. I’m pretty tired,” Thompson added.
The eighth-seeded Sydneysider entered the event ranked fourth in his career, number 40 in the world, and will rise a further four places. He could finish as high as No. 32 if he wins the decider.
Thompson will face Casper Ruud in the final after the Norwegian defeated defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in the previous semi-final.
Fourth-seeded Ruud fought off five set points in the second set to advance to his 19th final on tour level (10-8).
Greek star Tsitsipas, attempting to successfully defend a title for the third time (Marseille 2019-20, Monte Carlo 2022-23), has now lost six consecutive matches against Top 20 opposition.
The 29-year-old needed three hours and 42 minutes to triumph 7-5 4-6 7-6
Thompson will win the $AUD 1.3 million prize if he can win the final against Casper Ruud
“All in all it was a very exciting match, especially the second set,” said Ruud.
‘I was lucky to save a few set points there and hold him off. I was just a bit lucky and in the tiebreak I played really well from the start, so I’m very happy with the win.”