- Australian Jordan Thompson is into the final of the Los Cabos Open
- Thompson stunned top seed Alexander Zverev in semi-final
- It was his fourth Top-10 win and his second against Zverev
Jordan Thompson’s impressive run at the ATP’s Los Cabos Open has continued with the Australian recording a stunning three-set semi-final win over top seed Alexander Zverev.
The 29-year-old needed three hours 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 prize money offered for the tournament champion.
It was Thompson’s fourth Top-10 win and his second against Zverev, whom he also beat last October in Tokyo.
‘I think it’s just a miracle,’ Thompson said of his Mexican run, which included a fightback from 6-0 3-0 down in the quarter-final against American teenager Alex Michelsen.
‘I never thought I’d be here.’
The Aussie sent the World No.6 packing to earn his spot in the final of the Los Cabos Open
It was Thompson’s fourth Top-10 win and his second against Zverev
Thompson, striving for his third tour-level final, dropped his serve twice in the opening set, but broke three times to take it in 76 minutes.
His German opponent got the only break of the second set in the fifth game to push it to a decider, where both were unbreakable, forcing it to a tiebreak.
Thompson raced out to a 6-1 lead in the breaker before clinching it 7-2.
‘It was over three and a half hours. It was just a great match and I just competed 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 a career-high No.40 in the world, and is set to rise another four spots. 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 earlier semi.
The fourth-seeded Ruud fought off five set points in the second set to advance to his 19th tour-level final (10-8).
Greek star Tsitsipas, who was bidding 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 42 minutes to triumph 7-5 4-6 7-6
Thompson will win the $AUD1.3 million prize if he can win the final against Casper Ruud
‘It was a really close match, all in all, especially the second set,’ Ruud said.
‘I was fortunate 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 beginning, so I’m very happy with the win.’
