Australia’s hopes in the men’s singles draw at the 2025 Australian Open have been significantly reduced after Jordan Thompson was forced to withdraw from his second-round match against Nuno Borges due to a foot injury. The 27th seed, who had previously been managing the injury with injections, struggled throughout the match and was eventually defeated in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, on John Cain Arena.
Thompson’s injury, which had been a concern leading up to the tournament, became more debilitating as the match progressed, particularly during the third set. Despite showing moments of resilience, the 30-year-old was unable to compete at full capacity and could barely walk by the end of the match. Thompson acknowledged that he had been outplayed from the start but noted that he had a chance to fight back in the third set before the pain worsened. He expressed disappointment at the outcome, particularly because he had hoped to leave the tournament with a healthy body.
Borges, the world No. 33 from Portugal, capitalized on Thompson’s injury and secured a dominant victory. However, the Portuguese player expressed sympathy for his opponent, recognizing that Thompson had been playing well before the injury took hold. Borges, who had a breakthrough performance in 2024 by reaching the fourth round at Melbourne Park, was visibly pleased with his win and shared his affection for the Australian Open. He mentioned that the tournament holds a special place for him, referring to it as the “happy slam,” and acknowledged how the experience had helped him grow as a player.
Looking ahead, Borges will face world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the third round. While he did not set high expectations for the match, Borges was determined to challenge Alcaraz and bring his best tennis to the court. He spoke about his intention to apply pressure on the top seed and hoped to disrupt his rhythm.
Thompson’s exit leaves just one Australian seed remaining in the men’s singles draw: Alex de Minaur. De Minaur, who has shown solid form in the tournament, remains the last hope for Australian tennis fans. Meanwhile, other Australian players such as Thanasi Kokkinakis, Aleksandar Vukic, and Ajla Tomljanović were set to compete on day four, with Kokkinakis facing British 15th seed Jack Draper in a highly anticipated evening match.
The Australian Open has seen a number of setbacks for local players, with Alexei Popyrin, the 25th seed, also bowing out in the second round after a tough four-set loss to Frenchman Corentin Moutet. Popyrin, who had been dealing with injury issues and illness leading up to the match, was unable to recover fully and fell short in his bid to progress further.
As the tournament continues, the unpredictable weather in Melbourne has caused delays, with rain breaks interrupting play and pushing back the schedule. Despite these challenges, the remaining Australian players are determined to make an impact, with De Minaur leading the charge as the last remaining seed in the men’s draw.
