Jordan Thompson intends to get some pointers from Nick Kyrgios about Novak Djokovic

INTERVIEW IN LONDON: Novak Djokovic—Thompson's next opponent

LONDON—If you weren’t keeping up with the weather around the world recently, you’d be forgiven for resorting to that old cliché of England and rain.

Yes, it did come on the opening day of this year’s Wimbledon.

But most of the previous five weeks brought sunshine and temperatures of roughly 77 Fahrenheit (at least). Pimm’s weather—well, at Queen’s Club.

Thankfully, Monday’s delay in now blustery SW19 on the outer courts only lasted 90 minutes. The pause could be longer Tuesday.

Australia took a stranglehold in the always-fiercely contested Ashes cricket series against England on Sunday, and a day later, Sydney’s Jordan Thompson also thrived on grass to set up a second-round contest with Novak Djokovic. He did it the hard way, too, downing San Diego’s Brandon Nakashima, 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-3, on Court 9.

The news must have especially been welcomed back in Australia, given the late Sunday withdrawal of last year’s finalist, Nick Kyrgios.

The new-look Thompson meets a second member of the Big Three after two losses to Rafael Nadal—including in straight sets and two hours at the Spaniard’s stronghold of Roland Garros last year.

“I said at the end of the match to him, ‘It wasn’t fun but it was an honor,’” Thompson told a small gathering of reporters at Wimbledon’s new media pavilion. “So hopefully it’s a little more fun against Novak. But I’m well aware it might not be.”

Only one player in this year’s Wimbledon field has ever beaten Djokovic on grass—Andy Murray, who in turn was defeated by Thompson on grass in 2017. What a double it would be for the Aussie, who finished runner-up at the tune-up tournament in s'Hertogenbosch.

When the world No. 70 was asked if it was a “dream date” or “nightmare” to be facing the tennis legend, he smiled.

“It could be either,” Thompson said. “I’ve seen a few guys have nightmares out there against him on Centre Court. But hopefully that won’t be the case for me.

“Gonna have to play better than I did in the first two sets today, that’s for sure. I’ve got to believe, as silly as it sounds, that I can win or else there is no point going out there. I know the odds are firmly against me.”

By now, most know that Djokovic leads the men’s Grand Slam tally with 23 majors. Thompson suspects the number probably would have increased had the Serb—bidding to match Roger Federer’s haul of eight Wimbledon titles—not missed last year’s Australian Open and US Open.

“I guess it’s a fair statement that Rafa and Roger are loved but Novak should be very-well respected in what he’s done in the game and that he stuck to his guns with the vaccination stuff,” said Thompson. “He refused to get vaccinated. It probably cost him Grand Slams.”

Thompson’s forays to the net in the last three sets weren’t quite like a cricket bowler running at breakneck pace but he charged forward with gusto. Eleven approaches in the opening two sets preceded 59 in the last three.

A career hat-trick of two-set comebacks for the 29-year-old dovetailed with a trio of five-set losses at Grand Slams for Nakashima in 2023 alone. Nakashima practiced with Djokovic ahead of the Championships, a picture of the duo going viral given the latter’s pose. He was disappointed at missing out on a match encounter with the 36-year-old.

“Definitely saw the draw,” Nakashima told TENNIS.com. “Of course I was trying to focus as much as possible on today.”

There wasn’t much wiggle room for Nakashima when play resumed in the fifth set. The 21-year-old had to save a break point at 2-3, 30-40. But Thompson’s return matched a fine first serve and later, Nakashima sent a forehand into the net.

Thompson didn’t want the rain stoppage since he held all the momentum—but neither did Nakashima.

“I wanted to keep playing,” said Nakashima. “I knew stopping at that point, it’s going to be tough to come back mentally, waiting around, knowing that you are going to have to face a break point right off the bat, coming out a little cold.

“It was definitely something I was constantly thinking about, probably more stressed out during the break than he was.”

If that was the knockout punch for Nakashima, dropping serve from 40-0 at 2-2 in the third set initiated the change in momentum. Both players acknowledged as much.

“It’s definitely a turning point in the match,” said Nakashima, who extended Kyrgios to five sets in last year’s fourth round. “If I would have held that game, who knows what would have happened. Maybe I would have closed it out in three.”

At least the left knee injury that derailed Nakashima’s season is a thing of the past.

Thompson—his customary beard gone and playing without his usual cap at the end of the affair—intends to get some pointers from Kyrgios ahead of his clash with Djokovic.

The two practiced together last week in Mallorca, with Thompson finding out about Kyrgios’ decision to withdraw on Monday morning.

“Last night I went to bed early. When I got to the courts this morning, someone told me he pulled out,” said Thompson. “It’s incredibly disappointing. I know that he was having a few issues when we were practicing.

“He came so close to winning [last year] It’s not good news. Hopefully I’ve salvaged a little bit, but I don’t think anything will match the disappointment of him pulling out.”

But if he wins on Wednesday…