Trusty Rusty backing Thommo's brave Wimbledon push

West Australian

14 hours ago

Pained Jordan Thompson must battle uneven odds one more time against in-form powerhouse Taylor Fritz as he seeks to break new ground at Wimbledon - and he's grateful to have Australia's ultimate tennis fighter in his corner.
Back brace-clad 'Thommo' has been struggling with a debilitating sacroiliac joint problem, yet has somehow managed to squeeze into the fourth round for the first time in nine attempts.
On Sunday, fifth seed Fritz awaits him, armed with a record of 73 aces at this edition so far and more grass-court match wins this year (11) than anyone. He's just won a tournament in Stuttgart and his fourth title at Eastbourne, looking a genuine title contender.
So all the help he can get is welcomed by Thompson - particularly from his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who's been a constant presence at courtside at Australian men's matches over the past week.
'Rusty' Hewitt was, of course, the last Wimbledon men's winner here back in 2002, and his famed fighting spirit has been replicated by the 31-year-old Thompson so far.
After he had prevailed in his second-straight five-setter against Benjamin Bonzi, Thompson had thumped his hand against heart, roaring "that's some f***ing ticker!", while revealing how that phrase had come straight from the Hewitt lexicon.
"I'm more grateful that Rusty's there because I know he's done everything in tennis, and I know how he's felt, and I know he knows how I'm feeling," said Thompson, who's coached by Marinko Matosevic.
"Sometimes he's talking more than my coach, but I look to both of them. Obviously, I'm with Marinko every day, but Rusty's been in this position so many times, so he knows how it feels.
"Marinko will be the first one to admit that, and he'll take a backward step. He's got no ego about coaching, so he just wants the best for me. So it works well.
"Rusty'll put his thoughts forward, and I always appreciate that, but he doesn't step on anyone's toes, and certainly not Marinko's, because he knows Marinko's done a great job with me.
"He just says what he needs to - and sometimes less is better - but if I ask him, he'll give me the full detail."
They all have their work cut out plotting Fritz's downfall, even though the American has had tendinitis problems in his knee while, like Thompson, having to battle through two five-setters and a four-setter to set up the last-16 duel.
The last time they played, at Queen's Club last year, Thompson won in straight-sets but the Sydneysider shrugs: "Yeah, I won last time on grass, but it was very different grass in different circumstances. So it'll be a new day."
Fritz is certainly not taking the world No.44 lightly. "Thompson is going to be tricky," he said. "He's probably going to serve and volley me a lot, chip me a lot. He's good on grass.
"It's a different kind of match to the ones I've been playing. It's going to be a lot of trying to kind of break my rhythm and take me out of my groove of just serving and ripping, so it's going to be different, for sure."