Tennis Upset: Jordan Thompson Beats Zverev, Heads to Los Cabos Final

Jordan Thompson triumphed over the top seed Alexander Zverev in a grueling match to advance to the final of the ATP hardcourt tournament in Los Cabos, Mexico, setting up a clash with Casper Ruud.

Thompson, the Australian who is seeded eighth, battled for nearly four hours before securing a win with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), finally clinching victory in the early Saturday hours.

The 29-year-old Thompson is on the hunt for his first ATP tour singles title and will face Ruud in the final on Saturday evening.

Ruud, the fourth seed, earned his spot in the final by defeating the tournament’s reigning champion, Stefanos Tsitsipas, with scores of 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in the semi-final that took place earlier in the evening.

Thompson’s journey to the final was marked by a remarkable comeback in the quarterfinals, where he overturned a significant deficit against Alex Michelsen, saving three match points.

Reflecting on his performance, Thompson expressed disbelief at his achievement, highlighting the unexpected nature of his advance to the final.

In his semi-final match against Zverev, Thompson was pushed to the limit, facing five match points against him in the final set but managed to save them all. He then dominated the tiebreak, securing six consecutive points. Zverev managed to save one more match point, but Thompson sealed the deal on his serve shortly after.

Thompson commented on the intensity and duration of the match, emphasizing his exhaustion but satisfaction with staying competitive till the very end.

Ruud’s path to the final was characterized by his impeccable service in the first set and a critical save of five set points in the second set, which allowed him to win in straight sets.

Ruud acknowledged the tight competition, especially in the second set, attributing his success to a combination of skill and luck. He managed to avert set points in his service games towards the end and quickly gained an advantage in the tiebreaker, finishing the match in under two hours.