Jordan Thompson makes tennis history with three-win, two-title night in Los Cabos

Jordan Thompson has become the first player in the history of the Los Cabos Open to win the singles and doubles titles in the same year, and the first Australian to achieve that feat at an ATP event since Nick Kyrgios in 2022. Thompson broke through for his first career ATP singles title when he beat Casper Ruud in the final in Los Cabos in Mexico on Sunday.

It marked the first title at an ATP Tour event in Thompson's 11-year career as a professional tennis player. But the Aussie battler wasn't content with just winning the singles title, with the 29-year-old then surging to the doubles title alongside compatriot Max Purcell.

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After winning the singles final, Thompson then had to go and play his doubles semi-final - teaming up with Purcell to beating Ruud (again) and William Blumberg. The Aussies then had to play the doubles final straight after the semi, but it didn't slow them down as they triumphed over Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Gonzalo Escobar 7-5 7-6 (2).

Thompson's night started at 8pm and finished just before 3am as the Aussie won three matches and two titles in the space of seven hours. It marked the first time in the short history of the Los Cabos Open that a player has won both the singles and doubles titles at the same tournament.

The last Aussie to achieve that feat was Kyrgios, when he did the double in Washington in 2022. Thompson's charge to his first career singles title left the tennis world in disbelief considering he appeared destined to crash out in the quarter-finals.

The Aussie lost the first nine games against Alex Michelsen in the quarters, and was down 1-4 15-40 in the second set. But he somehow managed to save three match points against Michelsen and eventually prevailed, before taking down big guns Alexander Zverev and Ruud in the semi and final.

The World No.40, who will rise to a new career high of 32 with the victory, beat World No.12 Rudd in straight sets 6-3 7-6 (7-4). He spent more than 12 hours on court throughout his five singles matches during the tournament in Mexico.

"I spent so many hours on the court this week," he said. "In the quarter-final I could have been double bagelled, I could have been losing 6-0 6-0 and now I'm about to lift the trophy, so I think it's still a miracle.

"It's been a journey. I'm nearly 30 and I'm lifting a trophy - I never thought I would do that. My favourite place now, without a doubt.

"A lot of guys go throughout their career without winning a title, or without making a final. Some guys go through their careers even without playing many tournaments, so you can't get discouraged by not winning a title.

"It's incredibly tough. Not many guys do it. I mean, there's only one winner every week. Usually you lose every single week. You can't get discouraged. You've just got to keep working hard and I'm extremely competitive and I just want to play any game really. Whether it's tennis, cards, marbles, I just want to compete."

Tennis world in disbelief over Jordan Thompson triumph

The only other times Thompson had played in a singles final at ATP level came in the Netherlands in 's-Hertogenbosch - in 2019 and 2023. He's made a blazing start to 2024, beating Rafa Nadal to reach the semi-finals in Brisbane and reaching consecutive quarter-finals in Dallas and Delray Beach prior to his run in Los Cabos.

Thompson won 15 matches at ATP level in 2023 - which marked a career high. But he's already recorded 13 so far in 2024 and is destined to break new ground for his career. Tennis fans and commentators were blown away by the 29-year-old's performance in Los Cabos.

with AAP

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