Jordan Thompson Exits Australian Open After Marathon Borges Clash

Australian hope Jordan Thompson’s run at the Australian Open concluded prematurely on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, as he succumbed to Portugal’s Nuno Borges in a tense four-set battle. The 6-7 (9-11), 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 defeat at Melbourne Park not only marked Thompson’s sixth career second-round exit at his home Grand Slam but also contributed to a challenging day for several Australian players, including Ajla Tomljanovic, who also failed to advance.

Dramatic First Set Sets the Tone

The match against Borges, a familiar and difficult opponent for Thompson, began with palpable intensity. Thompson, buoyed by the home crowd, fought tooth and nail in a marathon first set that stretched to 63 minutes. Neither player managed a break of serve, leading to an extended tiebreak that Thompson ultimately edged 11-9. This initial triumph seemed to signal a promising start, with Thompson’s timing and competitive spirit appearing to be in sync. His opening-round victory over Cerundolo had set a positive tone, suggesting a potential deep run.

However, the momentum dramatically shifted after the first set. Borges, ranked world No. 46, steadied his game, pushing rallies into uncomfortable lengths for Thompson and consistently winning crucial ‘middle points’ that decide games and sets. As Borges began to stack sets, Thompson’s margin for error diminished, and the match transformed into a chase, with the Australian struggling to regain control in the lanes Borges effectively shut down. According to Filmogaz, Borges responded by winning the next two sets, putting Thompson under heavy pressure.

Frustration Mounts Amidst Shifting Fortunes

As the match progressed and the scoreboard tilted against him, Thompson’s frustration became increasingly visible. During the fourth set, a moment of visible annoyance saw him send a ball flying high in frustration, prompting chair umpire Arnaud Gabas to issue a code violation warning for ball abuse. Thompson voiced his annoyance with Gabas during the changeover, questioning the system’s accuracy. Later, when Borges broke Thompson at 4-4 in the fourth set to serve for the match, Thompson threw his racquet, a gesture that mirrored the dwindling hopes of the once-buoyed home crowd on ANZ Arena. The stadium, which had been vibrant at the start, grew uncharacteristically quiet as Borges closed out the victory.

The dynamic of emotional management in best-of-five tennis is crucial, and Thompson’s intensity, while admirable, at times translated into tactical errors. When points began to slip, the risk of rushing returns, going for too much on neutral balls, or playing the opponent rather than the patterns became evident. This is particularly challenging for home players, who face added pressure to defend a narrative as much as a scoreline, as noted by Filmogaz.

A Recurring Challenge Against a Familiar Foe

This matchup held particular significance due to its historical context. Thompson and Borges have a recurring rivalry, with Borges having won all three of their previous encounters, including a straight-sets victory at the Australian Open second round last year. This history added a psychological layer to the contest, with Borges knowing his blueprint had worked before, and Thompson acutely aware of past defeats. The Portuguese player’s patient, structured game, comfortable making matches physical, proved to be a specific kind of test that Thompson struggled to consistently overcome.

Thompson’s career has often been marked by injuries that disrupt his rhythm, with his best stretches occurring when his body allows for sustained confidence. While his first-round win this year was solid, Borges’s ability to pull him into long, patient duels where the steadier player is rewarded ultimately proved decisive. Probahis highlighted Borges’s cleaner baseline management, lower double fault percentage, and slightly better return profile as key advantages in tight sets, noting that tiebreaks historically leaned Borges’s way in this matchup.

A Nightmare Day for Australian Tennis

Thompson’s loss was part of a broader ‘nightmare day’ for Australian tennis at Melbourne Park. He was one of four Australian losses by the time the night session commenced. Shortly after Thompson’s defeat, Ajla Tomljanovic also failed to progress, losing in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) to Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Ruse’s impressive display included nearly double the winners (22-11) compared to Tomljanovic, who has not reached the round of 32 at a major since the 2023 US Open. While Tomljanovic’s recent shoulder injury did not appear to impact her performance, she simply couldn’t match Ruse’s level, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.

The string of defeats continued with promising 21-year-old Talia Gibson unable to convert three match points, eventually falling to 23rd seed Diana Shnaider. Storm Hunter also crashed out, losing to American Hailey Baptiste in straight sets. While 11 Australians advancing to the second round was the joint highest this century, the subsequent wave of eliminations, including wildcards Cruz Hewitt, James Duckworth, Maddison Inglis, and Destanee Aiava, painted a grim picture for local hopes. All eyes will now turn to the doubles circuit, with Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis set to compete in an all-Australian affair.

The Australian Open, particularly for local favorites like Jordan Thompson, often presents a unique crucible where national expectations amplify the inherent pressures of Grand Slam tennis. Thompson’s struggle to consistently convert strong starts into deeper tournament runs, especially against a persistent opponent like Nuno Borges, underscores the razor-thin margins and mental fortitude required at the elite level, where visible frustration can quickly translate into tactical disadvantages, ultimately shaping the narrative of a career.