Jordan Thompson has given himself a possibility to win his first ATP tour occasion after popping out on high in an all-Sydney battle with Rinky Hijikata on the pre-Wimbledon grass-court occasion in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
Thompson’s solely earlier closing look was three years in the past at this similar Dutch venue when he misplaced to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, however his 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory over the rising 22-year-old Hijikata has given him the prospect of a significant breakthrough in his 10-year profession.
Saturday’s conflict was the primary all-Australian semi-final in any tour occasion since Pat Rafter beat Lleyton Hewitt 22 years in the past within the Cincinnati Open.
Now the 29-year-old Thompson, who’s continuously thrived on grass courts, will face house hope Tallon Griekspoor in Sunday’s closing, after the Dutchman defeated Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4 7-5.
The Australian will enter the match with the increase of getting gained their solely earlier contest, a key rubber within the Davis Cup quarter-final tie with the Netherlands in Malaga final November.
But Griekspoor has already knocked out two different Sydneysiders on the best way to the ultimate, having accounted for No.1 Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin.
Playing in his fourth ATP semi-final – all on grass – towards a person in his maiden last-four look, Thompson’s expertise instructed as he got here by a good first-set tiebreak towards Hijikata and went on to seal a victory in just below two hours.
Thompson, who reached a Challenger closing within the London suburb of Surbiton final week and knocked out comeback man Milos Raonic earlier within the week, solely confronted one break level all match and saved it.
Whatever occurs within the closing, Thompson, at present the world No.103, shall be again contained in the top-100 once more subsequent week, as much as no less than 76.
In the foremost British warm-up occasion for Wimbledon on Saturday, one other Australian Aleksandar Vukic fell in qualifying at Queen’s Club to Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 6-4.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
