The Australian tennis player Thompson found himself playing a nightmare first-round match at Wimbledon. He played valiantly and achieved an electrifying five-set upset of his favored foe. The 31-year-old from Sydney fought valiantly through the full match. He eventually made his way through to the round of 32, where he’ll meet Benjamin Bonzi.
Thompson’s path to re-election was not without its challenges. For the third year in a row, he rallied from two sets down. Second, his resolve was tremendous, even after injury robbed him of the physical capacity to do otherwise. He triumphed on Court 9, a venue he has deep ties to from many first round marathons at Wimbledon. Yet, the contest was shrouded by waves of insecurity and anguish.
Post-match, Thompson’s demeanor showed the effects of the match and his fight against injuries. He moved even beyond shock at his eventual victory, telling reporters, “You know, I have no idea how I (won) that.” His mood was more like a dog that had lost the big race than one who had just won.
I’m too fortunate to be on the court!” Thompson shouted. It’s unfortunate that it’s Wimbledon, and I’m not having as much fun as I would normally be. His U.S. ranking has fallen from 26th at the start of the year to as high as 44th, mostly because of significant injury misfortunes. “I love playing tennis, competing, running around. It was my favorite style of getting the balls I had no business getting to and I can’t do that now. It’s extremely frustrating to watch balls go past me that I’m not even close to because I can’t move,” he added.
Thompson called a medical timeout during the third set to re-harness his mental focus. This change indicated that his injury was truly hampering his performance. Most importantly, he recognized that a clearer route to the league was changing his style of play. The truth is, I’m not doing well,” he admitted. I’ve learned to modify the mechanics of my serve to protect against postures which trigger pain, but that’s easier said than done on a tennis court.
It all, understandably, takes a toll on him. Yet, despite these challenges, Thompson refuses to lose hope. I will go to the extreme, move into an ice bath, hyperbaric chamber. I wouldn’t ever train enough,” he added, showing his determination to bounce back.
Now, as he gears up to face Bonzi, Thompson’s priority is continuing to heal and getting his competitive fire back. “But man I’m just praying I’m able to just get back on that court,” he finished.
