Australian Jordan Thompson one win away from $1.3m payday after eliminating top seed Alexander Zverev

Jordan Thompson’s impressive run at the ATP Los Cabos Open has continued with the Australian recording an impressive three-set semi-final victory over top seed Alexander Zverev.

The 29-year-old needed three hours and 42 minutes to triumph 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7-2) on Saturday (AEDT) and is now one step closer to his first ATP Tour title and $AUD1. 3 Million prize offered for the tournament champion.

It was Thompson’s fourth Top 10 win and second against Zverev, whom he also beat last October in Tokyo.

“I think it’s just a miracle,” Thompson said of his Mexican career, which included a 6-0, 3-0 comeback in the quarterfinals against American teenager Alex Michelsen.

“I never thought I’d be here.”

Thompson, fighting to reach his third tour final, lost serve twice in the first set, but was broken three times to hold serve in 76 minutes.

His German opponent got the only break of the second set in the fifth game to take it to a decider, where both were unbreakable, forcing a tiebreaker.

Thompson took a 6-1 lead into the break before making it 7-2.

“It was more than three and a half hours. It was just a great match and I competed until the end. I really don’t know what to say. “I’m pretty tired,” Thompson added.

The eighth-seeded Sydneysider entered the event ranked a career-best 40th in the world and is set to move up another four places. He could finish as high as 32nd if he wins the decider.

Thompson will face Casper Ruud in the final after the Norwegian defeated defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in the previous semi-final.

Fourth-seeded Ruud overcame five set points in the second set to advance to his 19th tour-level finish (10-8).

The Greek star Tsitsipas, who was trying to successfully defend a title for the third time (Marseille 2019-20, Monte Carlo 2022-23), has lost six consecutive games against Top 20 rivals.

“It was a very close match overall, especially the second set,” Ruud said.

“I was lucky to save some set points there and hold it off. I was a little lucky and in the tiebreaker I played very well from the beginning, so I’m very happy with the win.”