“It’s not good,” Post visibly angry confrontation with the chair umpire, Jordan Thompson decides to “choose” his words carefully following Australian Open’s “off-putting” rules

Jordan Thompson recently voiced his concerns regarding a new rule introduced at the season’s Australian Open. Later, the Aussie admitted to choosing his words wisely following his first-round triumph at the hardcourt event.

For the uninitiated, the 2024 Australian Open authorities brought to life a new crowd rule that permits fans to leave the stadium whenever they please, notably including their free movement between points, which ultimately distracts players.

The opening round of the Melbourne slam witnessed Jordan Thompson lock horns with compatriot Aleksandar Vukic. After a hard-hitting contest that lasted five sets, the World No. 47 concluded Vukic’s hardcourt campaign with a concluding score that read 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

However, during the match, Thompson was seemingly fazed by the tournament’s newest guideline for fans and subsequently, entered into a brief disagreement with the chair umpire. Following his first-round triumph, the Aussie was asked to level with the tournament’s latest rule in a post-match press conference and further stated that he was unaware of the event’s aforementioned rule. He said:

No, I'm good (smiling). Heat of the battle. Probably shouldn't have said it. Yeah, there is a few things that concerned me, but we won't go into that.

Thompson via Melbourne Press

The Australian further noted:

Had no idea. How many years which have we been playing tennis, and then all of a sudden they spring on us that they can come in between not even a sitdown. So it just disrupts everyone's rhythm. I mean, if someone is walking at the back and you are throwing the ball toss up, it's impossible to see it because you have a moving person behind it. Yeah, it's, in my opinion, it's not good. I'm choosing my words carefully.

It is worth noting that the 29-year-old is fresh off his quarterfinal victory over 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal at the Brisbane International where the latter marked his comeback to the tour after a 12-month hiatus from the sport.

Yeah. But, yeah, I just don't understand why we would do that. We are out there working, that's our job, we're tennis players. We don't come in and storm into an office while someone is in a meeting. Like someone is just barging through the door, making a nuisance. Even though it doesn't seem that way, but it is. It's very off-putting. That's one thing you can compare it to.

Jordan Thompson to take on Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in the third round of the 2024 Australian Open

Australian tennis professional Jordan Thompson will square off against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round of the 2024 Australian Open on Wednesday, January 17.

The Greek’s opening round saw him battle it out with Zizau Bergs at the prestigious Rod Laver Arena in Australia. Tsitsipas fenced the Belgian’s challenge and dropped just a set to further his agenda at the Melbourne Slam with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.

Tsitsipas is expected to make a deep run in the hardcourt slam considering his thrilling performance in the event’s previous edition. The Greek set up a title clash date against 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, where he ultimately lost the crown to the Serbian in straight sets.

In caser you missed it:

• Stefanos Tsitsipas gives a BLUNT response when asked about Alexander Zverev’s position in ‘players council’ amid domestic violence case
• “Don’t think about anything else,” Mirra Andreeva and Alina Korneeva receive wise words of wisdom from former No. 1 as she revels in patriotic pride

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