IT WAS a run very few saw coming, but Australian Jordan Thompson continued his strong form in 2024 to pick up his maiden title at Los Cabos in Mexico. The Aussie defeated former top 10 talent Casper Ruud in the final, where he backed up from an epic come-from-behind victory against Alexander Zverev and make it two top 10 wins in as many matches.

Coming back from 0-6 1-4 15-40 against American Alex Michelsen in the quarter finals, Thompson’s tournament looked very much over at that point. He found a way through, with the eighth seed winning 0-6 7-6 7-5, then had to do it a day later against Zverev.

Though the Australian won the first set, Zverev stormed into control to look the goods, before Thompson ground out a 7-5 4-6 7-6 victory in three hours and 41 minutes on court. With surely not much left in the tank for his final against Ruud, Thompson found a way to get the job done, winning 6-4 7-6 in another remarkable performance.

This time the match took two hours and two minutes, and though challenged by the Norwegian, Thompson won a whopping 80 per cent of his first serve points, and handy 53 per cent of his second serve points, along with seven aces to control the game off his serve. Ruud created 13 break point opportunities, but could only convert two, while Thompson made the most of his three chances in the victory.

“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.

Incredibly, Thompson led 5-3 and served for the match, but Ruud made him earn it, taking him to a tiebreaker before Thompson could salute 7-4 in that, and pick up his maiden singles trophy. The win in Los Cabos helped the Australian move up eight spots to number 32 in the world, edging closer to being seeded at a Grand Slam event.

Incredibly, Thompson did something very few do in tournaments, which was have to play three matches in a day, as he took out the doubles title with close mate Max Purcell. Thompson claimed the bragging honours over Ruud yet again in the semi-final, with the Norwegian teaming up with American William Blumberg, but the Aussies won 7-6 6-3.

That semi-final was delayed because of rain over recent days, which meant after playing his singles final and doubles semi-final, Thompson returned to the court with Purcell for the final. The fourth seeds got the job done against Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 7-5 7-6 handing Thompson more success and a ridiculous amount of time on court.

Though he has slogged it out this week, there will be no time to rest for the Australian, who will remain in Mexico for the Abierto Mexico Telcel. In a quirky element of the draw, he and Purcell have drawn against Escobar and Nedovyesov in the first round of the doubles. Thompson will face a qualifier in the Round of 32 for the ATP 500 event, with a likely second round encounter against second seed Holger Rune.

MIFEL TENNIS OPEN ATP 250 | FINAL RESULT:

[8] Jordan Thompson (AUS) defeated [4] Casper Ruud (NOR) 6-3 7-6