Jordan Thompson slays another tennis giant as Aussie underdog pockets huge $1.3MILLION prizemoney after big win in Mexico

Marathon man Jordan Thompson has finally claimed his first ATP Tour title, with the Australian upsetting Norwegian Casper Ruud to lift the trophy in Los Cabos, Mexico.

After eleven years on tour, the 29-year-old defeated Ruud in twelfth place in straight sets 6-3 7-6 (7-4).

Thompson entered the event ranked No. 40 for his career and now tops that ranking, reaching No. 32 after winning the decider.

The Sydneysider was playing his third tour-level final after a gutsy three-set win over top seed and world number 6 Alexander Zverev in a three-hour, 42-minute semi-final.

He spent more than twelve hours on the court during his five matches in the Mexican tournament, rallying from 0-6 0-3 in the quarter-finals and saving three match points to beat American Alex Michelson 0-6 7-6 expel. 7-1) 7-5.

The Australian will take home $1.3 million in prize money after his victory in Mexico

Thompson looked to have the lead early on against Ruud, with his mixed bag of shots putting his rival on the back foot.

He had particular success at the net, using his deft touch to win 18 of 22 points.

But the second-placed Australian made things difficult for himself again in the second set.

He led 5-3 and faltered when serving for the match at 5-4, while former world champion Ruud leveled at 5-5.

Thompson was able to refocus amid a boisterous local crowd that offered Ruud to push the match into a third set, wrapping up the title in the tiebreak with an attacking forehand winner.

“I’ve spent so many hours on the pitch this week. In the quarter-final I could have won the double, I could have lost 6-0, 6-0 and now I’m about to lift the trophy, so I I think it’s still a miracle,” Thompson said after the game.

“It was a journey. I’m almost thirty and I’m holding a trophy; I never thought I would do that.

“My favorite place right now, hands down,” he said of Los Cabos.

Thompson’s previous tour-level finals took place in the Netherlands in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, in 2019 and 2023.

He defeated another giant – this time Casper Ruud – to win the match

He had had a great start to the year, beating Rafael Nadal to reach the Brisbane semi-finals and reaching consecutive quarter-finals in Dallas and Delray Beach prior to his run in Los Cabos.

Ruud, 25, had knocked out defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the semi-finals and was within sight of his 11th tour title and a return to the top 10.

Thompson and Ruud faced off again a short time later in the doubles semifinals in Los Cabos, with Thompson teaming up with compatriot Max Purcell and Ruud teaming up with William Blumberg.

This gives Thompson the opportunity to become the first player since Nick Kyrgios (Washington 2022) to collect the singles and doubles titles at the same ATP Tour event.