Just 3 years after his debut, Jordan Thompson made his entry into the Top-100 of the tennis circuit. However, things have been slow yet steady for the Australian as he tried to leave an indelible mark on the circuit. During the journey after some wins and losses, it seems that he and his family have derived a new schedule, a routine, or a superstition. It’s not uncommon for players to follow a routine that they did when they made it big. And the same can be said for the Australian tennis pro. The routine in the words of his father is, “The further away he is from me, the better he does.”

The most famous example of following a routine might be Rafael Nadal’s arrangement of his bottles on the court. The same thing has also been observed with Carlos Alcaraz. Every player has their way, which helps them calm down, perform better, and maybe a few wins. And it seems Thompson’s family also follows a routine: when the Aussie plays, his father isn’t seen supporting him in the stands. He is far away when his son plays. And it seems that this “jinx” may have worked for him.

His father detailed the thought of staying away from the court: “He seems to play better when I’m not there. He plays better if I just stay away and text him.” But it doesn’t mean that support is lost as he frequently checks up on his son. “I’ll ask if he wants this, or he wants that. He will tell me if he wants me to come with him.” But when did this unconventional habit come into place?

Courtesy: COVID-19, when Thompson’s father didn’t make the cut to accompany the player, as only one person was allowed due to the protocol established back in 2020. However, this doesn’t mean that there is a distance between the father and son.

Thompson’s father still helps Jordan today, training him when they’re together during the preseason and traveling for a few weeks in the middle of the year. The father mentored ‘Thommo‘ since the age of four, and his mother drove him to the practice around Sydney. It has been total team work from the family and the Aussie player is yet to thank his parents: “It’s a lot of sacrifice that goes into any professional athlete. I have a lot to thank them for.” 

To this day, Thompson followed his father’s advice, He remarked, “If you want to be a good player, you’ve got to do everything well’. So hopefully I’m doing that.” Certainly he is, the Aussie tennis star has risen to a career high ranking: World No.30!

Thompson credits his parents for his subsequent rise to Top 30

Parents are certainly the strongest pillar of support for the players. Be it Nadal who had his family, including Uncle Toni or Djokovic’s father, who went to great lengths to ensure that the Serb had the best of the best. Thompson’s parents too stood by their son as he tried to find his rhythm on the tennis court: “He was always trying to make sure my technique was in order. Pretty much every shot that I have is owed to my dad.”

As he turned 30 this year, he got a beautiful and deserving birthday surprise, his accent into the top 30 in the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time. With this, he became the 4th player to rise in the ranks at a relatively older age. But the Aussie has not given up on his dream to win Grand Slam as he continues on the journey to prove that age is just a number. “It’s pretty special. Thirty on 30,” Thompson told ATPTour.com after advancing to the second round of the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers.

This season has been great for Thompson, as he made it to the quarterfinals of the DC Open, finals of the Atlanta Open, and semifinals at the Queen’s Club. Though he has yet to touch the semifinals in the Grand Slam, the Aussie seems to be following a steady pace to rise to the top, and he would certainly grab the chance with both hands when it comes. And maybe break the fateful jinx that has kept his father away from the stands while his son plays on the court.