Patience has paid off in a big way for the 29-year-old Jordan Thompson — both this week on court at the Mifel Tennis Open by Telcel Oppo and in the larger scope of his tennis career.
On Saturday night in Los Cabos, the Aussie won his first ATP Tour title by beating Casper Ruud 6-3, 7-6(4). The victory, in Thompson's third tour-level final, capped a dramatic week that saw him play for 12 hours across five matches. His run included three match point saves in a comeback from 6-0, 3-0 down against Alex Michelsen in the quarter-finals, as well as a three-hour, 40-minute win against Alexander Zverev in the semis that finished after 1 a.m. Saturday morning.
His final victory was straightforward by comparison, but not without its own late drama. Thompson built a 5-3 lead in set two after trailing 0-2, but was pushed to a tie-break as Ruud locked in from the baseline down the stretch. Undeterred, the eighth seed regrouped to edge the Norwegian, clinching the ATP 250 trophy with a big serve and a forehand winner on his first championship point.
"I spent so many hours on the court this week. In the quarter-final I could have been double bageled, I could have been losing 6-0, 6-0. And now I'm about to lift the trophy, so I think it's still a miracle," Thompson said post-match, repeating the line he used after the semis.
Thompson on 🔝 🏆@jordanthommmo2 claims his maiden ATP Tour title defeating Ruud 6-3 7-6(4) at #LosCabosTennisOpen pic.twitter.com/womTwiK2UR
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 25, 2024
Thompson flummoxed Ruud throughout the two-hour final with his variety and a measured all-court approach. The Aussie mixed in short and deep slices and won 18 of 22 net points with deft touch from the frontcourt. He also saved 11 of 13 break points against him while converting on all three of his break chances, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
In addition to his first title, Thompson will also be leaving Los Cabos with a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of World No. 32, eight spots up from his position entering the week.
"My favourite place now, without a doubt," he said of the Mexican city. Thompson's previous tour-level finals both came in 's-Hertogenbosch, in 2019 and 2023.
Thompson began his 2024 season by beating Rafael Nadal to reach the Brisbane semi-finals, and also reached consecutive quarter-finals in Dallas and Delray Beach prior to his Los Cabos run.
Ruud dropped to 10-9 in tour-level finals with the defeat, his second loss this season and his first to a player outside the Top 25 this year. The Norwegian was also denied a return to the Top 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time since November.
Following his singles victory, Thompson got the better of Ruud for a second time on Saturday in the doubles semi-finals in Los Cabos. Thompson teamed with Max Purcell for a 7-6(1), 6-3 triumph against the Norwegian and his partner William Blumberg, giving Thompson the opportunity to become the first player since Nick Kyrgios (2022 Washington) to sweep the singles and doubles titles at the same ATP Tour event.
The Australian did just that, as he and Purcell downed Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 7-5, 7-6(2). The fourth-seeded Purcell and Thompson won 79 per cent (37/47) of points behind first serves, according to Infosys ATP Stats, as they wrapped a 98-minute victory to claim their third ATP Tour title as a team and their second of this year after they triumphed in Dallas earlier this month.
Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell in championship-match action on Saturday in Los Cabos. Photo Credit: Mextenis.
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