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Jordan Thompson has overcome John Millman in a three-sets scrap on clay in Austria as attentions for the Australians turned toward this month's French Open.
Just days after his best showing at a grand slam event, Jordan Thompson has overcome fellow Australian John Millman at the first clay-court event on the ATP Tour since February.
Thompson, who reached the last 16 at the US Open in New York, needed almost three hours to see off Millman 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-2) in the first round of the Generali Open.
Thompson said he was leaving Flushing Meadows with only great vibes and renewed belief and that was on show in Kitzbuhel, Austria.
"Yeah, an an incredible week for me. I'm playing good tennis, looking forward to getting on the clay so it's given me a lot of confidence," the 26-year-old Sydneysider said after his US Open exit.
Both players broke serve on six occasions but world No.63 Thompson won the important points in the tiebreaker to outlast 43rd-ranked Millman - who exited the US Open in the second round
Thompson's next match is against Serb Miomor Kecmenovic, who upset sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori 4-6 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday.
The next major for the year is the French Open at Roland Garros, with the main draw of the clay-court slam to gets under way on September 27.
Meanwhile, others to advance to the round of 16 in Austria were Italian youngster Jannik Sinner, Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez and Swiss qualifier Marc-Andrea Huesler.
Sinner, the 2019 ATP Next Generation finals champion, beat experienced German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-2.
Kohlschreiber, who resides in Kitzbuehel and won the title there in 2015 2017, was appearing at the tournament for the 10th straight year.
The 44th-ranked Sinner will play Laslo Djere in the round of 16 after the Serb rallied from 4-0 down in the final set to defeat the eighth-seeded Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-1 3-6 7-6 (7-2).
Lopez downed Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4 6-3 while Huesler accounted for Emil Ruusuvuori 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2) to advance to a meeting with top-seeded Fabio Fognini, who had a bye in the opening round.
