Teenage tennis ace Jordan Thompson said bring on the big guns after surviving his first five-setter to earn a ticket to next month’s Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Thompson needed three hours and 26 minutes to see off former Wimbledon junior runner-up Ben Mitchell 6-3 6-2 4-6 4-6 6-1 in the men’s final of the Open wildcard playoff on Sunday.
Thompson held his nerve after blowing a golden opportunity to shut out Mitchell in straight sets.
“To be up two sets and a break and so close to winning and not being able to close it out but then withstand his comeback gives me a lot of confidence,” he said.
After drawing opponents he’d lost to last up in his first two rounds, Thompson was merely “hoping just to have a good week” at the playoffs.
Instead, the world No.318 had a dream week and was left overjoyed to qualify for his maiden grand slam event.
“It’s massive,” Thompson said.
“I’m only 19 and to be in the Australian Open main draw with the likes of Federer, Djokovic and my favourite player Hewitt, it’s unbelievable.
“I wouldn’t mind drawing one of them in the first round actually, just to test out where I’m at.”
Casey Dellacqua lived up to her top billing to snap up the women’s wildcard and qualify for her 11th Australian Open appearance.
Top-seeded Dellacqua recovered from a shaky start to power past third seed Arina Rodionova 5-7 6-1 6-0.
“Woohoo,” Dellacqua tweeted. “Bring on 2014.”
And with good reason.
With four victories at the wildcard playoff, Dellacqua will enter the summer riding a 14-match winning streak after also capturing back-to-back challenger events in Bendigo.
Little wonder the one-time world No.39 believes she’s in the form of her life.
After also reaching three grand slam doubles finals in 2013 with Ashleigh Barty, 28-year-old Dellacqua says she’s even playing better than five years ago when she surged to her career-high ranking after making the last 16 of the Australian Open.
“I haven’t felt like I’ve played this good for years,” the West Australian told AAP.
“At this point in my career, I definitely feel like a more complete player.”
Dellacqua is ranked a lowly No.141 in the world – still good enough to be the Australian No.2 behind Samantha Stosur – after battling back from a series of major injuries and focusing more on her doubles this year.
But the power-hitting left-hander is dedicated to improving her singles ranking in 2014.
“Definitely my goal now is to get back into the top 100 ASAP,” she said.
“There’s good opportunities to win a few matches over the next few weeks and do well and I haven’t got many rankings points to defend.”
