'This is crazy': Jordan Thompson shattered after 'brutal' US Open drama

Australia's Jordan Thompson is kicking himself after letting an incredible chance to progress to the third round of the US Open slip through his fingers.

The 27-year-old Aussie was on the verge of springing a massive upset on Friday (AEST) after taking a two-sets-to-love lead against Russian 21st seed Aslan Karatsev.

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Thompson also had two match points in a tense fourth-set tiebreak but was unable to capitalise as Karatsev prevailed in a five-set thriller, with a 3-6 3-6 7-5 7-6 (11-9) 6-1 victory in four hours and 39 minutes.

Thompson appeared on his way to the last 32 alongside world No.1 Ash Barty and fellow Australian Alexei Popyrin but says he'll have to try and pick himself back up after his campaign at Flushing Meadows came to a bitterly disappointing end.

"Two match points; I could have been off the court and into the third round and saved myself from playing another set of tennis," he lamented.

"It's what we play tennis for. We're here at the grand slams and match points for another third round of a slam that's gone begging.

"But I can't linger on that forever because it's gone. I'll probably have doubles tomorrow so hopefully I get pumped and adrenaline will get me through it."

Fans were equally as gutted for the Aussie after watching him come so close, but fall so agonisingly short.

Jordan Thompson turns attention to doubles

Compounding the pain, Thompson will tumble outside the world's top 70 after failing to defend the rankings points accrued from his career-best run to the fourth round last year in New York.

Still, it was another valiant effort from the 27-year-old following his epic five-set triumph over Gianluca Mager in round one.

Thompson ran for a staggering 9032 metres but said fitness wasn't a factor in his demise.

"My body's fine," he said.

"I was doing most the of the running and, when you think about it, you're not really jogging through any points so it's pretty quick movements for 9000 metres.

"I guess that's good for me that, my fitness is at a high level, but it doesn't matter if you can't win."

Karatsev has been among the form players of the tour in 2021, reaching the Australian Open semi-finals from qualifying on his grand-slam main-draw debut and surging from outside the world's top 100 to 25th in the rankings.

He won his maiden ATP title in Dubai in March and knocked over Novak Djokovic in Belgrade the following month.

But Thompson had the 21st seed's measure for much of Friday's battle, only to relinquish a two-set advantage to bow out.

Thompson now has a chance to make amends in the doubles where he'll partner fellow Sydneysider James Duckworth, who blew five match points of his own in a similarly tough five-set first-round loss to Pedro Martinez.

Barty earlier booked her place in the women's third round with a 6-1 7-5 win over Danish teenager Clara Tauson.

The top seed will play American Shelby Rogers next on Sunday for a place in the last 16.

Popyrin advanced to the third round on Thursday and faces Brit Dan Evans for a spot in the second week of a major for the first time.

with AAP

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