Australian tennis fans endured a day of profound disappointment at Melbourne Park as local hope Jordan Thompson crashed out of the Australian Open, continuing a nightmare run for homegrown players. After an impressive first set, Thompson's campaign unravelled dramatically in a 6-7 (9-7) 6-3 6-2 6-4 defeat to world No. 46 Nuno Borges of Portugal.
A Promising Start Turns Sour for Thompson
The match began with great promise for the Sydney native, who needed 63 minutes to secure the opening set. Neither player managed to break serve during the initial stanza, with Thompson eventually prevailing 11-9 in a marathon tiebreaker that had local supporters roaring their approval.
However, the momentum shifted decisively when Borges elevated his intensity from the second set onward. The 31-year-old Australian wildcard, competing in his home grand slam for the sixth time, found himself unable to match his opponent's relentless pressure as the Portuguese player dominated the next two sets.
Fourth Set Collapse Seals Thompson's Fate
Thompson demonstrated his trademark fighting spirit in the fourth set, racing to what appeared to be a commanding 4-1 lead. Yet in a remarkable and heartbreaking turnaround, he proceeded to lose five consecutive games, ultimately crashing out of the tournament in what marks his sixth career second-round exit at the Australian Open.
Tomljanovic Falls in Straight Sets
On the women's side, Ajla Tomljanovic also failed to progress to the third round, succumbing 6-4 6-4 to Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse. The former world No. 32 couldn't contain her opponent's powerful game, with Ruse crushing 22 winners in an impressive display that highlighted the growing depth of women's tennis.
Australian Contingent Suffers Widespread Losses
The exits of Thompson and Tomljanovic capped a disastrous day for Australian players across multiple matches. Promising 21-year-old Talia Gibson squandered three match points before falling to 23rd seed Diana Shnaider in three sets, while Storm Hunter suffered a comprehensive 6-2 6-1 defeat to American Hailey Baptiste.
This collective disappointment comes despite the fact that eleven Australians had advanced to the second round in Melbourne, equalling the highest number this century and initially generating considerable optimism among local supporters.
Doubles Disappointments Compound the Misery
The misery extended to doubles competition, where wildcards Cruz Hewitt and James Duckworth lost 6-3 6-4 to Yuki Bhambri and André Göransson. Maddison Inglis and Destanee Aiava also fell in straight sets, though there was a rare bright spot as new Australian representative Daria Kasatkina bounced back from her singles disappointment to team with Arina Rodionova and progress to the second round.
All Eyes Turn to Kyrgios and Kokkinakis
Attention now shifts to the all-Australian doubles affair featuring Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, who face compatriots Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans in their first-round match at Kia Arena on Thursday. This highly anticipated showdown represents perhaps the last best chance for local fans to celebrate Australian success in the tournament's early stages.
International Stars Continue Their March
Meanwhile, international stars enjoyed smooth progress through the tournament. Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka all advanced comfortably to the third round with convincing victories in their respective matches, underscoring the gulf that Australian players must bridge to compete at the highest level of the sport.
