It’s Aussie versus Aussie non-Aussie at the Sydney International today as Jordan Thompson battles lucky loser and surprise call-up Nikoloz Basilashvili in a first-round showdown. Join The Roar for live scores and analysis from around 5.45pm (AEDT).
Thanasi Kokkinakis was the talk of the town leading up to the game, having triumphed in the Brisbane International doubles with Thompson, but it appears his injury woes haven’t yet abated, an abdominal strain forcing his withdrawal from the competition just before the scheduled start of play.
With the Australian Open just days away, this latest injury could not have come at a worse time for Kokkinakis, who joins countryman and friend Nick Kyrgios among the walking wounded after the latter’s withdrawal from the Adelaide World Tennis Challenge with a knee complaint.
His partner in that Brisbane International triumph, 22-year-old Jordan Thompson, is a man in form in both the singles and doubles, defeating David Ferrer on his way to the Brisbane International singles quarter-finals before being knocked out by eventual runner-up Kei Nishikori.
Thompson has progressed a long way since emerging onto the international scene with a heartbreaking five-set loss to Jerzy Janowicz at the 2014 Australian Open, and his current world ranking of 75 is more than justified.
His opponent, 24-year old Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, is a relative unknown on the international scene, but he has several notable career highlights under his belt. He reached the third round at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships, defeating 15th seed Feliciano Lopez on the way, and just this year made his first ATP final, losing to Italian Paolo Lorenzi in the Austrian Open.
In October, he also claimed his first big fish, taking out world number 10 Tomas Berdych in the Vienna Open.
Prediction
Thompson would have been expecting to play good friend and doubles partner Kokkinakis in this one, but while the Georgian is an unfamiliar opponent, the hard-running Australian should be too good in this one.
Thompson in two sets.
Tune into The Roar from around 4.30pm (AEDT) for all the highlights, analysis and live scores, and always remember to give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Tim Miller
Editor
Jordan Thompson moves into the second round with a crushing 7-5, 6-2 victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili in front of his home crowd. Having prepared to face doubles partner and friend Thanasi Kokkinakis in the lead-up, it was an impressive feat to shrug off the surprise of Kokkinakis' withdrawal and play his natural game so well. He appeared perfectly suited for Basilashvili's game, who threw attempted winner after attempted winner at Thompson, but found himself just having to keep playing and keep playing before the inevitable error. Probably the main focus of the game was Basilashvili's plentiful unforced errors, many of them ghastly, but Thompson's defensive game was excellent. There was a stretch in that second set where Basilashvili played some quite good tennis, but simply couldn't do anything about Thompson's power running and athleticism. It was almost like watching a poor man's Novak Djokovic at times, such was his returning ability. Well, Basilashvili departs the Sydney International as quickly as he came, while Thompson progresses to the second round, where he'll face German fifth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber. Should be an interesting tussle. That's it from me. Sorry about the lack of Kokkinakis, but at least we got to see an Aussie record a triumph on home soil. A pretty good day for the men down under after Alex De Minaur's triumph, although Daria Gavrilova was trouced off the court by Johanna Konta. Oh well. Can't have them all. Evening, all, and thanks for tuning in!
Tim Miller
Editor
Thompson finishes in style! A lovely ace right down the T, swinging away, and Basilashvili just watches it go by! Thompson 7 6 Basilashvili 5 4
Tim Miller
Editor
Not far away now as Basilashvili's erratic forehand continues to haunt him, this time sending the ball long for the umpteenth time. A pair of match points. 40-15
Tim Miller
Editor
Now Thompson makes a rare error and breaks a run of 8 straight points as he sends a backhand a smidge long. 30-15
Tim Miller
Editor
Basilashvili makes another mistake, this time a forehand aimed at the baseline but too long. 30-0
Tim Miller
Editor
Basilashvili has made a plethora of unforced errors, but the Thompson defensive game has been just sublime. Starts off with a wide ace to move within 3 points of a straight sets win. 15-0
Tim Miller
Editor
Outstanding defensive tennis from Thompson! Basilashvili looks to have him beaten with a sizzling forehand down the line, but Thompson somehow gets to it and gets his lob bang on, right on the line. With the point back on tenterhooks, it's too much for Basilashvili, who sends his cross-court backhand wide! Broken to love, and the double-break for Thompson! He'll serve for the match now. Basilashvili 5 2 Thompson 7 5
Tim Miller
Editor
Second double fault from Basilashvili in a row. Looks to be running out of steam. 0-30
Tim Miller
Editor
Double fault from Basilashvili gives Thompson an early point. 0-15
Tim Miller
Editor
Once again, Thompson's defensive game proves too much for Basilashvili, as some heavy baseline hitting where both men have to stretch precedes Basilashvili sending a backhand long. Thompson backs up the break with a hold. Basilashvili 5 2 Thompson 7 4
Tim Miller
Editor
Basilashvili anticipates the body serve and moves to cover it, but his attempted backhand into the open court finds the net. 40-30
Tim Miller
Editor
Trading errors at the moment, this time it's Basilashvili who makes the mistake, finding the net off an attempted cross-court forehand. 30-30
Tim Miller
Editor
Another error from Thompson as he sends an innocuous backhand just long. A little opening for Basilashvili. 15-30
Tim Miller
Editor
Goes wide with the first serve and Basilashvili's backhand goes well long. 15-15
Tim Miller
Editor
Now Thompson makes a blue as his backhand goes long. Looked to have Basilashvili on the ropes with some lovely precision up until that point. 0-15
Tim Miller
Editor
First break of the second set goes the way of the Australian. But Thompson now needs to back it up. He had the same advantage last set (twice) but lost concentration and allowed Basilashvili to break right back. If he presses home his advantage now, it might be enough for victory.
Tim Miller
Editor
Basilashvili really trying to own every point here, but he looks to be trying to hit it too hard. This time, tries to slam a forehand down the line for a winner, but sends it wide to give Thompson the early break! Basilashvili 5 3 Thompson 7 2
Tim Miller
Editor
Now Thompson takes break points with a clear winner, anticipates the cross-court backhand from Basilashvili and hammers his own backhand down the line. 15-40
Tim Miller
Editor
Basilashvili goes wide and it looks like a winner, but Thompson somehow manages to get it back and stay in the point. From that moment, a Thompson point triumph looks certain, but his backhand goes long. 15-30
Tim Miller
Editor
Again a sloppy unforced error from Basilashvili, has Thompson on the back foot with a series of well-placed forehands but when he comes up to the net to make an end of the point, his volley goes long. 0-30