Inspired Thompson saves 3 MPs, stuns Nadal in Brisbane

Jordan Thompson completed a Brisbane International presented by Evie double over Rafael Nadal in spectacular style on Friday night to bring the former World No. 1’s comeback run to an end at the ATP 250.

Thompson saved three match points in the second set before charging to a remarkable 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-4 quarter-final triumph inside Pat Rafter Arena. The home favourite, who also defeated Nadal in the first round of the doubles in Brisbane, fed off a raucous home crowd to secure a famous three-hour, 25-minute victory in humid conditions that tested the physicality of both players.

“I completely forgot I saved match points,” said a delighted Thompson in his on-court interview. “To beat Rafa at home, in Brisbane in a quarter-final. I think it’s my first semi-final on a hard court as well. I couldn’t be happier.”

Nadal had largely breezed through his opening matches against Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler in Brisbane, but Thompson delivered a high-class display of aggressive baseline hitting to go toe-to-toe with the 92-time tour-level titlist. Despite facing a match point at 4-5, 30/40 in the second set and then two more from 4/6 in the tie-break, the World No. 55 twice rallied before dominating a tiring Nadal in the decider.

Nadal, who will rue bad misses on two of his three match points, left the court for a medical time-out at 1-4 in the third set, but appeared to be moving freely on his return as he tried to mount a late comeback.

Now into the semi-finals in Brisbane for the first time, Thompson will take on second seed Grigor Dimitrov next as he bids for his maiden ATP Tour crown.

Despite Infosys ATP Stats showing that Thompson won nine of 12 points against Nadal’s second serve in the opening set, it was the Spaniard who found a way to clinch the opener. Neither player was able to consistently dominate in baseline rallies, but Nadal raced to 0/40 on return in the 12th game and made no mistake in clinching a set that had arguably been the toughest of his comeback so far.

A similarly hard-fought second set — and with it the match — appeared to have veered Nadal’s way when he carved out a match point on return at 5-4, 30/40. The 92-time tour-level titlist could barely believe it when he netted a backhand overhead when on top in the rally, however, perhaps the first sign of rustiness at a key moment he had shown this week.

Nadal made another uncharacteristic error on the second of two match points in the second-set tie-break as he pushed a forehand wide at 6/5. An inspired Thompson capitalised in style, producing two stunning all-court points to clinch the set, his first in three Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with the Spaniard.

With the momentum firmly in his corner, Thompson continued to bludgeon the ball off both wings and keep his opponent on the move. His approach worked perfectly against a tiring opponent, although Nadal pushed all the way. It took the longest point of the match, only ended when Nadal pushed a backhand long, for Thompson to get over the line.