Jordan Thompson battles back to win five set epic but counts the cost of digging deep

Australia’s last man standing on the opening day at Wimbledon was barely standing at all by the time he had battled his way into the second round.

Four Aussie men took to the grass but by the time the last Pimm’s had been drained by spectators on the sun-drenched sidelines only one was left, and Jordan Thompson’s mood was more akin to a man who’d lost as well.

Wearing a brace to protect a back injury and a grimace as he fought the pain Thompson rallied from two sets down to beat Vit Kopriva 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 in a three-hour, 37-minute rollercoaster in blazing London sunshine.

It was the third year in succession Thompson had come from two sets down in Wimbledon’s opening round, remarkably each time on Court 9.

But despite his triumph the 31-year-old Sydneysider was a morose figure post-match, the limitations being placed on his play and practice by injury sapping the joy of victory.

Indeed, he said he might not even be able to get on court on Wednesday (local time) for his second-round match with Benjamin Bonzi, shock conqueror of No.9 seed Daniil Medvedev.

“I’m just praying I can get back on the court,” he said. “I’ll do everything I can; live in an ice bath or hyperbaric chamber. I’ll hardly practice.

“I’m taking painkillers, anti-inflammatories, but sometimes they can’t really help.

“I’m just lucky to be on court even though it is sad that it’s Wimbledon and I am not enjoying it as much as I usually do.

“I love playing tennis, competing, running around. I love getting the balls I probably shouldn’t and I can’t do that at the moment. It’s extremely frustrating to watch balls go past me that I’m not even close to because I can’t move. Practising, warming up, is just putting my body through hell.

“I don’t think anyone would enjoy that.

“I’m not moving well. I’ve had to change the style of my serve, to try and not get into positions that cause discomfort, but that’s easier said than done on a tennis court.

Koprina, a 28-year-old Czech currently at a career-high 78th in the world, was a tricky opponent for Thompson who has slid from 26th at the start of the year to 44th as injuries have disrupted his season.

“I have no idea how I [won] that,” added Thompson. “He was playing well, I just thought ‘five sets, hopefully I’ll get better and better’. I managed to sneak a break in the third, clawed out a tough fourth set and just took momentum.

“I told myself, ‘keep thinking you’ve no chance’. Obviously I still believe I can win but I told myself, ‘forget it, maybe I’ll enjoy it more that way’.”

Thompson might find a smile it if he keeps winning. Medvedev’s exit and Alexei Popyrin’s defeat by Briton Arthur Fery means he cannot meet a higher-ranked player until the second week, which he has never reached at Wimbledon.

But first he will have to crank up his aching body to back up his comeback five-setter, something he failed to do here in 2023 and 2024.