Path Through the Draw
Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson came into the US Open as the seventh ranked team in the men’s doubles draw. It was never out of the realm of possibility for them to make a run to the final, but it certainly wasn’t widely expected.
Their tournament opened up against Marcos Giron and Botic Van De Zandschulp. They quickly dispatched of the unseeded team in two straight sets winning 6-4, 7-5.
Next up was fellow Australian John-Patrick Smith and his partner Andreas Mies. The duo gave Purcell and Thompson a scare, winning the opening set 6-4 and forcing a second set tiebreak.
The all-Australian side held their nerve and won the tiebreak 7-3 before going on to take the third set 6-3.
The Portuguese team of Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral were the round of 16 matchup and the Australian’s again took care of business in two straight. After a tight opening set which they again won 7-3 in a tiebreak, they cruised to a 6-3 second set victory.
Amidst this run to the quarterfinals, Thompson was also experiencing singles success as he reached a Grand Slam round of 16 for just the second time in his career. He fell to countryman Alex de Minaur in their round of 16 match and as such, turned his attention completely to doubles where they were matched up with the top seeded Marcell Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.
The Australians won the match in a strikingly similar way to their previous match. They claimed victory in two straight, with first going to a tiebreak in which they prevailed 7-4 and the second where they found a service break and won 6-4.
Now into the semi-finals, they matched up with American 13 seeds Jackson Withrow and Nathaniel Lammons. Riding on the back of their nine aces and 80% first serve win percentage, The Aussies won in two straight.
The set scores were flipped from their previous two matches as they won 6-4 in the first, and 7-6 (7-4) in the second.
It has been a dominant tournament thus far for Purcell and Thompson who have only dropped one set en route to the final.
What to Expect from the Final
In said final they are facing off against tenth seeded Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz. The Germans have much more mileage on them, having gone three sets and played lengthy tiebreaks in each of their past three matches.
It will be a battle of playstyles in the final as the Australians rely much more on big serving to put them ahead in points while the Germans serves are not as dangerous, but their net play and positioning as a team is top tier.
If Thompson and Purcell are serving well, and can pick their spots with passing shots, they should have a good chance to claim their maiden slam as a team.
Wimbledon Heartbreak Still in Peripherals
This is the second time this season Purcell and Thompson have been in a Grand Slam final. At Wimbledon they reached the final and even had three match points before ultimately losing.
This loss undoubtedly lingers in the minds of them both, yet this tournament has shown that it has not affected their play.
Their mental toughness is clearly top tier, and if they find themselves in a position to close out the match at the US Open similarly to what they had at Wimbledon, expect them to take care of business.
Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson have reached a Grand Slam final for the second time in their career as teammates. Previously they were unable to finish the job, but their current form and determination suggests that this time, at the US Open, the result could be different.
