Thompson falls in US Open epic
Leading two sets to love in searing heat, Aussie Jordan Thompson was unable to see off Steve Darcis in his first appearance at Flushing Meadows.
New York, NY, USA, 30 August 2016 | AAP
Australian youngster Jordan Thompson was inconsolable after suffering through a gut-wrenching five-set defeat on his US Open debut at Flushing Meadows.
The 22-year-old blew a two-set advantage and two match points in a brutal 5-7 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4 7-5 loss to Belgian Steve Darcis on Monday.
Playing in sickening heat he compared to “something like Vietnam or Bangkok”, Thompson cramped up in the final game of the four-hour, 11-minute epic on the old Grandstand Court.
“It’s hot, humid, the sun’s out, there’s no shade. I was hurting in that last game. No doubt I struggled a bit at the end,” Thompson said.
The world No.92 served for the match at 5-4 in the third set and watched Darcis save one match point with an audacious volley pass from the baseline.
“I just felt like I left myself down, let other people down. It’s not good,” Thompson said.
“Just the people in the box there supporting me, I’ve worked with those people for a long time and it’s what you work towards – to be playing here and winning matches and I let it slip away.
“So it’s just a bitter disappointment.”
As if the loss wasn’t tough enough to digest, Thompson had to sit through drug testing afterwards, but said it was all another big learning experience.
“Everything’s a learning curve at this age,” he said before turning his attention to the Asian swing.
“I’ll have to regroup for those.”