AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2026

Jordan Thompson

Press Conference

J. THOMPSON/J. Cerundolo

6-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Jordan, what's the overwhelming emotion that you're feeling right now, making it through to the next round of your home Grand Slam?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Probably relief. Got through a match unscathed. Feeling pretty healthy. Wasn't a common occurrence last year. So yeah, just want to stay healthy this year.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It seemed that after the first set you realized sitting on the baseline wasn't going to work for you. You realized you needed to attack the net. Was that your decision? Were you fed numbers?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Obviously got my team telling me to get to the net, but I knew I needed to do it myself. I just thought I would be able to get into more return games. But he was serving well, playing well, playing great from the back. He was moving well. That put pressure on me.

Yeah, obviously my best game's up front. Yeah, just needed to make a little adjustment.

Q. Just take us through your body issues in the last 12 months or so, in particular how you've been feeling the last month.

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I feel great now. Obviously last year my back was no good. My calf, oblique, ab, foot. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.

But now I'm feeling good. I didn't play too much last year. When I did play, I didn't really get to finish, so... Played Noumea at the start of the year. Got a few matches. Played a match at Kooyong. Lucky enough to do the Red Bull event here, just get some court time.

It's good to get through that first match.

Q. How much are you being driven by trying to get over the second-round hump here at Melbourne Park?

JORDAN THOMPSON: When I was down a set and down break points out there, I thought, Geez, this is not looking good.

But yeah, I've given myself another crack. I don't know what Australian Open this is for me. I think it's well over 10. Just going to have to do something different.

Q. After a tight first set and a half, you got on a bit of roll. Then you conceded two or three games in the third and fourth set. How pleasing was that performance today? How would you evaluate it?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, it was tough conditions. I mean, it was so hot at the start. The court's playing quick. Playing a lefty. Playing at your home slam. He was playing well. No one could get a break there. No break points in the first set, so...

To sort of sneak a break at the end of the second set, then sort of roll away with the match, that was probably the most pleasing, and obviously incorporating a lot of serve-volley at the end there.

Probably a little bit more aggressive, but also you got to settle into the match, as well. Yeah, it's never easy. Then the wind kicked in. Got a little bit gusty. Yeah, it's just good to get through that first one and give myself another opportunity.

Q. You play Nuno Borges in the second round, who beat Felix Auger-Aliassime after he retired from cramps. You lost to Borges last year. What did you learn from that match? What will you take into this rematch as you seek revenge?

JORDAN THOMPSON: You know, he's a quality player. Don't think he really has any holes. Yeah, I'm just going to have to look at that match he played against Felix. I didn't even know Felix cramped.

Yeah, I'll do a little bit more study and probably have a clearer answer after that (smiling).

Q. Jordan, I think you were supporting Jordan Smith last week. That would have been amazing to be part of that. Take us through that from your perspective, that whole experience for Jordan. Has it kind of changed your mindset or approach coming into this tournament?

JORDAN THOMPSON: I was so pumped for him. I hit with him the day before. I had a practice slot I think 6:00 to 7:30 on Margaret Court. Said, Do you want to have a hit? I was just going to hit with my coach. So it saved my coach hitting.

Got Jordan some court time on a big court, at nighttime as well. But I was sitting front row when he got to that final point. I was sitting up in the glass, had my hands on the glass. My hands were shaking. Never been that nervous.

Yeah, when you see a mate win a million bucks... Yeah, I felt bad because she played so well the whole night, and just miscued one ball.

I was up on my feet. I've never been happier for a mate. For him to make a million bucks is life-changing. Sydney house prices are through the roof. He'll be on the hunt now. Yeah, I was just incredibly happy for him.

Q. Such a different lead-in for you to be part of that last week.

JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, it's odd sitting in the crowd and watching a mate. I enjoyed it, but the nerves are through the roof. Now I know how he feels when he's watching me.

I think it's just a surreal moment for him. Ball sails wide and he's won a billion bucks. Yeah, it's hard to say because it's point to point. It's not a match.

Yeah, I was relieved for him when he won. I've never been more nervous. I'd probably rather be on the court myself.

Q. It's point to point. Does it say to you, you would have had those moments where that point can cause not a million-dollar point, but there's enormous consequence to it. Does it tell you he did it, I can do it?

JORDAN THOMPSON: A little bit different. One serve, two serves. Scissor, paper, rock. It emphasizes the importance of one point. I mean, for me, the one that I can remember is in the doubles match, myself and Max Purcell had three match points to win the Wimbledon title and we didn't win it.

You win one more point and you're a Wimbledon champion. You lose that point, you're going home with your tail between your legs.

Yeah, that's probably the only way you could probably... I don't even know if you can argue they're similar. One point can change your life.