Australia stared down a disastrous Wimbledon wipeout for much of the first four hours on Monday until a wounded Jordan Thompson stepped in to pull off another Houdini act at the All England Club.
After admitting on tournament eve that he was playing only because it was Wimbledon, Thompson sunk into a two-set hole against little-known Czech Vit Kopriva before completing a gutsy 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 comeback win across three hours and 37 minutes.
As it was, Thompson was the sole Australian from eight in action on day one to advance to the second round.
But the 31-year-old net-rusher – who played in a back brace, on painkillers and with an abbreviated service action because of his injury – looked crestfallen as he revealed he was no certainty to play his next match.
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