'Incredible': Jordan Thompson marches to Wimbledon fourth round for the first time
Updated . First published at
Jordan Thompson has powered into the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time with a solid performance over Italian Luciano Darderi.
The Australian looked in control from the outset and needed only four sets on Friday (Saturday morning AEST) compared to five for each of his previous matches at The Championships.
"Isn't it incredible, at one time he was talking about not even playing," Australian great Todd Woodbridge said in commentary.
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Jordan Thompson advances to the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time. Stan
"I saw him walking down Church Road on Sunday and he said he's going to wait and see how things went.
"And now he's into the fourth round."
Thompson took the first set well and was up a break in the second when he looked like he might falter, pushed to long rallies by Darderi until the Australian could close it out.
The Italian brought a fresh intensity to the third set, managing to break Thompson's serve for the first time.
With an increasingly rowdy crowd on the spectator-favourite court 18, Thompson returned to control in the fourth set to claim an early break.
As he began to trail, Darderi grew frustrated. After losing his serve he unleashed his anger on a spare ball, hitting it so powerfully it ended up on another court and prompting a warning from the umpire. In the next game Darderi took umbrage at a delay by Thompson who interrupted his own serve to avoid being stung by a bee.
The Australian remained composed, needing only two match points to serve it out.
Thompson won 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
The Australian looked in control from the outset and needed only four sets compared to five for each of his previous matches at The Championships. Getty
"He served extremely well all through the match, even the service game he dropped," Woodbridge said.
Thompson served 19 aces to Darderi's eight.
Thompson will take on American world No.5 Taylor Fritz in the fourth round.
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