Thompson falls to defending champion in Houston quarterfinals
Third seed Frances Tiafoe downs Aussie Jordan Thompson, while Aleksandar Vukic loses Marrakech quarterfinal.
Houston, USA, 6 April 2024 | Dan Imhoff
Jordan Thompson’s quest for a maiden clay-court semifinal has ended in defeat to third seed Frances Tiafoe at Houston on Friday.
Thompson had saved three match points to deny another American Aleksandar Kovacevic to reach the quarterfinals but was unable to stop the reigning champion in a 7-6(8) 6-4 defeat.
The 29-year-old, who was assured of climbing to a career-best world No.32 in singles on Monday, later returned to court alongside fellow Australian Max Purcell to make the doubles final. The fourth seeds rebounded to defeat N. Sriram Balaji of India and Andre Begemann of Germany 6-7(5) 6-2 [10-3].
An Australian is assured of claiming the doubles title when they meet compatriot John Peers and American William Blumberg on Saturday.
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Aussies in action – Houston
RESULTS
Men’s singles, quarterfinals
[3] Frances Tiafoe (USA) d [6] Jordan Thompson (AUS) 7-6(8) 6-4
Men’s doubles, semifinal
John Peers (AUS)/William Blumberg (USA) d Fernando Romboli (BRA)/Marcelo Zormann Da Silva (BRA) 6-7(3) 6-3 [10-3]
COMING UP
Men’s doubles, semifinal
[4] Max Purcell (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) d N. Sriram Balaji (IND)/Andre Begemann (GER) 6-7(5) 6-2 [10-3]
Men’s doubles, final
[4] Max Purcell (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) v John Peers (AUS)/William Blumberg (USA)
Aleksandar Vukic’s Marrakech campaign is over after falling 6-2 6-4 to seventh-seeded Argentine Mariano Navone in his first clay-court quarterfinal.
Heading into the Moroccan ATP 250 event, Vukic had not won consecutive matches at tour level this season.
He beat last year’s runner-up, Alexandre Muller, in the opening round and saved a match point to deny second seed Sebastian Ofner before the world No.60 ended his run on Friday.
Aussies in action – Marrakech
RESULTS
Men’s singles, quarterfinals
[7] Mariano Navone (ARG) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS)
Aussies in action – Charleston
RESULTS
Women’s doubles, semifinals
Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR)/Nadia Kichenok (UKR) d [1] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) 6-7(4) 7-6(2) [13-11]
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