Aussie mates Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell share historical past as juniors, lodging at Wimbledon – and parallel ambitions of their 2023 campaigns.
London, Nice Britain, 1 July 2023 | Vivienne Christie
As eight Australian males take their place in the primary draw at Wimbledon, the spirit of camaraderie is robust.
“Aussies keep on with different Aussies,” stated Jordan Thompson who’s joyful to share lodging with Chris O’Connell this 12 months.
The careers of the shut mates and fellow Sydneysiders have lengthy been entwined.
Each aged 29, they competed usually as juniors.
“The primary time we ever performed one another was after we have been eight, so we’ve identified one another for a very very long time,” O’Connell stated.
“He obtained into the highest 100 sooner than me, so it’s fairly cool that I’m now within the high 100 and taking part in these tournaments. It’s a very good feeling.”
Chris O’Connell and Jordan Thompson compete within the AO 2011 junior boys doubles; Getty Photographs
So too is the broader camaraderie among the many Australian males’s contingent, which alongside 9 top-100 gamers, contains James Duckworth and Rinky Hijikata on the cusp of the elite group.
Each Thompson and O’Connell respect the success-breeds-success impact.
“We’re all pushing one another ahead,” stated Thompson. “I imply, everybody doing properly pushes everybody else.”
Requested if these 9 males created a rivalry among the many Australians, O’Connell had a optimistic take.
“It’s like a very good type of rivalry … if you wish to name it that,” he stated.
“However when one Aussie has a very good consequence, you’re like ‘I can do this’ after which I’ve a very good consequence and another person has a very good consequence.
“It’s simply been occurring all 12 months. I assume it’s a very good factor that there’s so many Aussies within the high 100.”
As they ready for his or her respective main-draw campaigns at Wimbledon, each Sydneysiders had created a robust platform for achievement.
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Whereas Thompson’s 2023 grass-court season options 9 match wins – together with a second look in ATP last at ‘s-Hertogenbosch – O’Connell was a quarterfinalist in Stuttgart and is sitting at a peak world No.70 rating.
It fuels his ambitions in a second main-draw Wimbledon marketing campaign. “Once I broke the highest 100, I used to be within the 90s (and) I needed to get into the 80s. After which once I was within the 80s, I’m like ‘Okay, I can get into the 70s now’. Now I’m 70 on the dot and now I need to get into the 60s.
“You’re continuously wanting to enhance however clearly a purpose could be high 50 for certain.”
Thompson might be aiming for a profitable begin towards world No.51 American Brandon Nakashima, whereas O’Connell faces Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic.
“(Medjedovic) have to be fairly respectable as a result of he’s certified. It’s powerful to do this at any Grand Slam, however on the grass as properly,” stated O’Connell, who was additionally a qualifier at Wimbledon 2021, when he pushed Gael Monfils to 5 units.
“He certified fairly convincingly, so he’s going to be free-swinging, like I felt I used to be a few years in the past taking part in Monfils first spherical.”
Ought to he progress over Nakashima, Thompson faces a possible second-round contest with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic. Whereas it’s a frightening risk, the sometimes laid-back Australian has a optimistic method.
“I imply, as silly because it sounds. You bought to consider you can win,” Thompson reasoned. “In the event you’re happening the court docket and also you assume you’re going to lose, there’s no level going out.”
If further help is required, the pair can lean on one another, in addition to their shared joyful recollections of competing on grass.
O’Connell recalled competing at Australian nationwide occasions in Mildura. “Me and Jordan would really go collectively, our dads would take us there. Have a little bit journey to Mildura,” he stated.
As they replicate on these recollections, the 2 Sydneysiders are additionally proudly supporting one another.
“He’s having his greatest season. He’s gained loads of matches and overwhelmed some nice gamers,” stated Thompson of O’Connell. “There’s no purpose why we shouldn’t be looking for him.”
And a good-natured O’Connell is equally conscious – and skilled – of the risks that his mate presents.
“I believe I gained the very first match (as an eight-year-old) however then he’s had my quantity ever since!” he laughed.
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