ANOTHER day, another local hero made it through to the second round in the Brisbane International ATP 250 event with Jordan Thompson outlasting former Top 10 Italian Matteo Berrettini. His powerful opponent played a key role in Italy’s Davis Cup triumph last month alongside world number one Jannik Sinner, so finished his year later than most.

It looked like he was ready for the clash a lot earlier, racing to a 6-3 lead in the opening set. He served three aces and won a whopping 20 of 23 points off his serve and did not even give Thompson a look-in. Instead, he broke Thompson with one of only three chances to go ahead in the Round of 32 match.

However Thompson did well to work his way back into the match, out-serving the Italian in the second set with four aces and being more consistent (70 to 52 per cent first serve percentage). Berrettini was still dominant on his first serve (85 per cent) but looked ultra-vulnerable on his second (25 per cent), and it showed with Thompson converting two breaks to one.

That momentum continued into the deciding third set with Thompson lifting his first serve success rate up to 83 per cent (15 of 18), and able to convert a sole break from a rare chance. He did not face a break point during the deciding third set which helped the Aussie eighth seed close out the match, 3-6 6-3 6-4.

“I just tried to give him a different look on serve. Obviously, he was serving unbelievably at the start and wasn’t missing many first serves,” Thompson said. “I thought I’d try and throw him off his rhythm. I think I might have just jagged a lucky break and maybe just got it started.

“It’s difficult. Sometimes it’s really hard to find his backhand. He’s a big frame and he’s got a huge serve and huge forehand. Trying to pin him in that backhand corner’s not as easy as it sounds.

“I think I can credit my movement, just trying to counterpunch, you know, a faster strike and I feel like I can get on top of the rally.”

Thompson will take on Next Gen young gun Alex Michelsen in the Round of 16 after the American won an epic over Aussie Christopher O’Connell, 14-12 in the third set tiebreak. The match lasted two hours and 24 minutes all up with Michelsen prevailing 6-4 4-6 7-6.

In other results, Czech Jiri Lehecka claimed a big scalp first up by defeating third seeded Dane Holger Rune in straight sets, 7-5 6-3. He joined tournament reigning champion and second seed Grigor Dimitrov in the Round of 16 after the Bulgarian fought past German Yannick Hanfmann 7-6 6-3.

Meanwhile Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi needed two hours and 49 minutes to shake off top ranked Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 6-7 7-6 6-4, though his compatriot Arthur Rinderknech was not as fortunate, going down to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets. In the all-South American battle, Nicolas Jarry won a tight one over Mariano Navone, 7-5 7-6.