Paris: Jordan Thompson has another giant task ahead of him after breaking new grand slam ground with a win over Ivo Karlovic in the French Open second round.
The 25-year-old found a way to diffuse the 40-year-old's massive serve, prevailing 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 in a tit-for-tat French Open clash.
Australian Jordan Thompson has reached the French Open third round, his best result at a major tournament.Credit:EPA
Thompson will play eighth seed Juan Martin Del Potro on Saturday in what will be his first third round appearance in a grand slam.
It was revenge of sorts after the Croatian beat Thompson in five sets at the same stage three years ago and leaves him as the last Australian man standing in Paris.
Advertisement
Thompson is also set to at least equal his previous career high ranking of 60 thanks to his latest feat.
Incredibly he made just five unforced errors in the two hour, 31-minute contest to go with 47 winners as he calmly picked his moments against the 206 centimetre veteran.
But Thompson said it was his mental application that made the difference.
Three times Thompson disagreed with the chair umpire over line calls late in the third set and early in the fourth.
But, after losing a third-set tiebreak, Thompson played three near-perfect games to secure the decisive advantage.
"It's so hard to play someone like that," he said of the ace-machine, who became the oldest male winner at Roland Garros since 1973 earlier in the week.
"I did keep focused most of the time – there were lapses – but I thought my mental effort was pretty good.
_
Australian Breaking News Headlines
Paris: Jordan Thompson has another giant task ahead of him after breaking new grand slam ground with a win over Ivo Karlovic in the French Open second round.
The 25-year-old found a way to diffuse the 40-year-old's massive serve, prevailing 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 in a tit-for-tat French Open clash.
Australian Jordan Thompson has reached the French Open third round, his best result at a major tournament.Credit:EPA
Thompson will play eighth seed Juan Martin Del Potro on Saturday in what will be his first third round appearance in a grand slam.
It was revenge of sorts after the Croatian beat Thompson in five sets at the same stage three years ago and leaves him as the last Australian man standing in Paris.
Advertisement
Thompson is also set to at least equal his previous career high ranking of 60 thanks to his latest feat.
Incredibly he made just five unforced errors in the two hour, 31-minute contest to go with 47 winners as he calmly picked his moments against the 206 centimetre veteran.
But Thompson said it was his mental application that made the difference.
Three times Thompson disagreed with the chair umpire over line calls late in the third set and early in the fourth.
But, after losing a third-set tiebreak, Thompson played three near-perfect games to secure the decisive advantage.
"It's so hard to play someone like that," he said of the ace-machine, who became the oldest male winner at Roland Garros since 1973 earlier in the week.
"I did keep focused most of the time – there were lapses – but I thought my mental effort was pretty good.
_
