Jordan Thompson sole survivor in bleak day at Wimbledon for Aussies

Jordan Thompson had to dig deep to prevent a complete Australian wipe-out at Wimbledon, while a former finalist was reduced to tears and Carlos Alcaraz survived a major scare.

Jordan Thompson fought back from two sets down to salvage a shocking day for Australia at Wimbledon, outlasting Vit Kopriva to prevent a complete green-and-gold wipe-out.

On a day when Alexei Popyrin, Kim Birrell, Chris O’Connell, Olivia Gadecki, James Duckworth, Talia Gibson and dual-Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic all fell flat, Thompson dug deep to eventually prevail 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (1) 6-1.

“I just told myself when I was down two sets of love, ‘just keep thinking that you’ve got no chance to win’,” he said.

“It’s better that way. And obviously I still believed I could win, but I just kept telling myself, ‘Forget it. You’re not going to win’.

“That takes the pressure off. I mean, I can’t put too much pressure on myself, even though I do a lot of the times, (because) this year’s just been a disaster.”

Jordan Thompson fought back from two sets down to beat Vit Kopriva. Picture: AFP

Alcaraz survives scare, Sabalenka cruises on Wimbledon’s hottest opening day

Carlos Alcaraz survived a major scare in his Wimbledon opener while Aryna Sabalenka kept her cool to cruise into the second round on the hottest opening day in the tournament’s history.

Temperatures at the All England Club on Monday topped 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record for the start of the tournament of 29.3 Celsius set in 2001.

Alcaraz ignored the sweltering conditions, digging dip for a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 win over 38-year-old Fabio Fognini in a gruelling clash lasting four hours and 37 minutes on Centre Court.

Carlos Alcaraz survived a major scare in his Wimbledon opener against Italy's Fabio Fognini. Picture: AFP

It was first time since Roger Federer narrowly beat Alejandro Falla in 2010 that a defending champion had been taken to a fifth set in the Wimbledon first round.

Alcaraz shrugged off an inconsistent display including 62 unforced errors as the world number two refused to wilt in the heat.

“I don’t know why it is probably Fabio’s last Wimbledon because the level he has shown shows he can still play for three or four more years,” said the Spaniard.

“Playing on Centre Court for the first match of any tournament is never easy. Wimbledon is special and different. I just tried to play my best but I would say that I could play better.”

Top seed Sabalenka used ice packs to beat the heat during her 6-1, 7-5 victory over Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine on Court One.

The 27-year-old Belarusian is a three-time Grand Slam champion but suffered agonising three-set defeats in this year’s Australian Open and French Open finals.

TEARFUL JABEUR FORCED TO RETIRE FROM FIRST-ROUND CLASH

Two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur broke down in tears before retiring from her first-round match against Viktoriya Tomova on Monday.

Tunisia’s Jabeur was trailing 7-6 (7/5), 2-0 when she brought a premature end to her clash with the Bulgarian world number 111 at the All England Club.

The 30-year-old, beaten in the 2022 and 2023 Wimbledon finals, looked uncomfortable throughout the match in sweltering temperatures in London.

The world number 59 wiped away tears after losing a long fifth game in the first set and took a lengthy medical timeout, with staff attending to her before taking her off court.

Jabeur, who repeatedly used ice towels in a bid to cope with the heat, eventually returned to Court 14 after a 14-minute delay, but was unable to finish the match.

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur reacts as she plays against Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova. Picture: AFP

“I wasn’t expecting not to feel good. I have been practising pretty well the last few days,” said Jabeur, who did not specify the reason for her withdrawal.

“These things happen. I’m pretty sad. It doesn’t really help me with my confidence.” The former world number two’s Wimbledon exit was the latest blow in a disappointing spell.

Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, has slipped down the rankings over the past year after injury problems.

Ons Jabeur gets medical assistance during her match against Varvara Gracheva. Picture: AP Photo

Earlier this year she had breathing difficulties in the Australian Open second round after suffering an asthma problem.

“I keep pushing myself even though it was a very tough season for me, so I hope I can feel better and see what is going to happen,” she said.

“Try to disconnect a little bit from tennis and try to enjoy life outside tennis.

“Try to recover and spend time with the family. Hopefully that can recharge me. Definitely rest is the word for it.”

Originally published as Jordan Thompson sole survivor in bleak day at Wimbledon for Aussies