3 minute read

Australian tennis ace Jordan Thompson has made up for his fourth-round US Open singles loss to reach the semi-finals of the doubles with compatriot Max Purcell.

Hold the phone, Jordan Thompson might win the US Open after all.

Just doubles, not singles.

A day after falling in the singles fourth round to fellow Australian Alex de Minaur, Thompson returned to Flushing Meadows to revive his title hopes with a mighty quarter-final doubles triumph over the tournament's top seeds.

Repeating their effort at Wimbledon two months ago, Thompson and fellow Sydneysider Max Purcell took out the top-ranked pair of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to march in to the last four.

Suddenly Thompson and Purcell are two tantalising wins away from atoning for a gut-wrenching five-set finals loss, from two match points up, at the All England Club to Brit Henry Patten and Finn Harri Heliovaara.

The seventh-seeded Australians will meet Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow for a spot in the final.

Thompson's doubles foray to the doubles semis and singles last 16 continues the 30-year-old's most successful grand slam.

He will climb to a career-high No.29 in the world in singles on Monday and be on track to nab a grand slam seeding for the first time at Melbourne Park in January.

Knowing 40 is the new 30 in sport these days as modern science and nutrition extends professional careers like never before, Thompson hopes his best tennis still lay ahead.

"No doubt the best tennis I've played in my career is this year," he said.

"So hopefully I can just keep improving, keep looking after the body.

"You see guys playing well in to their thirties now so hopefully I can do that as well."

Win or lose the doubles semi-finals, Thompson is guaranteed a career pay day of at least $US515,000 ($A770,000).

If he makes the decider, he can bank more than $A1 million for a magical fortnight in New York.