Australian up-and-comer Jordan Thompson has dashed Stefanos Tsitsipas ambition to grab the world No.1 rating, eliminating the Greek from the Indian Wells match title with an exhilarating three-set victory.
The 28-year-old Sydneysider delivered his 7-6 (7-0) 4-6 7-6 (7-5) win on Friday to advance to the spherical of 32 on the Masters 1000 occasion.
Second-seed Tsitsipas earlier informed reporters he didn’t anticipate to make a deep run on the match as a consequence of an ailing shoulder, and it was unclear how a lot he had left within the tank after being blanked within the first set tie-breaker.
However the Greek battled again and secured the one service break of the match within the second, pumping up the group forward of the third set tiebreak.
However his overly aggressive play within the breaker, together with a forehand on match level that missed the road by the slimmest of margins, was his undoing.
A beaming Thompson fired a ball excessive into the air in celebration after he notched his first win over Tsitsipas in three profession conferences, and solely his second over a top-10 participant.
“It is unreal,” Thompson stated.
“At a Masters 1000, within the Indian Wells Tennis Backyard right here. It is certainly one of my favourite tournaments, lots of gamers’ favourite tournaments, to play.
‘I am actually completely satisfied’
“To have a win like that’s unimaginable. I am actually completely satisfied.”
Thompson, who beat French veteran Gael Monfils in straight units within the opening spherical, will now meet Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo within the spherical of 32.
Earlier, Cameron Norrie cruised previous Taiwan’s Tung-lin Wu 6-2 6-Four in second-round motion.
Norrie, the 2021 champion, broke Wu 4 instances en path to the win.
“Plenty of good reminiscences at Indian Wells,” Norrie stated. “It is good to be via to the third spherical.”
The 10th seed is off to a terrific begin this yr having overwhelmed world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz within the Rio Open remaining final month to say his fifth singles title.
Norwegian Casper Ruud’s serve-forehand one-two punch proved an excessive amount of for Diego Schwartzman because the third seed superior 6-2 6-Three over a participant who has given him bother prior to now.
“All the things kind of went my means,” stated Ruud, who now has 4 wins and 5 losses in opposition to the Argentine.
“Early on there have been a few line photographs and web cords that went my means, so I type of felt that possibly right this moment is my day.”
-AAP
