Australian Open 2025: Local Hopes Struggle in Second Round

MELBOURNE, Australia — The second round of the 2025 Australian Open is underway, with six Australian players vying for a spot in the third round. However, the home crowd’s hopes took a hit as seeded player Jordan Thompson suffered a straight-sets defeat on Wednesday.

Thompson, ranked 27th, fell to Portugal‘s Nuno Borges 3-6, 2-6, 4-6 in front of a packed crowd at John Cain Arena. The Australian struggled to find his rhythm, converting none of his two break point opportunities while Borges capitalized on four of his nine chances. Thompson’s first serve percentage was a low 63%, compared to Borges’ 77%.

“It’s always tough playing at home with the added pressure,” Thompson said after the match. “Nuno played a solid match, and I couldn’t find my best tennis today.”

Thompson’s early exit comes after a strong 2024 season, where he reached the fourth round of the US Open and claimed a title in Los Cabos. His performance in Melbourne serves as a reality check for the 30-year-old, who had hoped to make a deeper run in his home Grand Slam.

Other Australian players are still in contention, including wildcard Talia Gibson, who faces 11th-seeded Paula Badosa in the night session at Margaret Court Arena. Ajla Tomljanovic, another wildcard, will take on Diana Shnaider in the evening session at John Cain Arena.

Thanasi Kokkinakis, a fan favorite, is set to battle 15th-seeded Jack Draper, while Aleksander Vukic faces a tough challenge against 22nd-seeded Sebastian Korda at Kia Arena. James Duckworth rounds out the Australian contingent, squaring off against Roberto Carballes Baena on Court 3.

The Australian Open continues through Sunday, with local fans hoping for better fortunes as the tournament progresses.