Number one seed Jordan Thompson has improved his runner-up performance in last year’s ATP Traralgon Challenger by defeating Slovenian Grega Zemlja 6-1 6-2 to be crowned this year’s tournament champion.
The world number 95 looked in control throughout the match at the Traralgon Tennis Association and cruised to victory in the opening set as his opponent struggled for rhythm, regularly faulting on his first serve and struggling to keep the ball on the court.
The only hint of competition came in the fifth game of the second set with Thompson and Zemlja locked at deuce and both players fighting hard to claim the set.
Zemlja eventually held serve before Thompson broke him two games later to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.
From there the Sydney-sider did not look back as he claimed the set 6-2 and, with it, the match.
Thompson said it was “always pretty good to make the final and to win it is even better”.
“A 6-1 6-2 victory in a final doesn’t come too often unless you’re Novak Djokovic maybe,” he said.
“It’s nowhere near that level, but I definitely didn’t expect it.”
Thompson defeated semi-final opponent, Argentinian Marco Trungelliti, 6-4 6-3 to make the grand final for a second consecutive year.
He lost last year’s grand final to Matt Ebden 7-5 6-3.
Thompson said he felt he improved with each match.
“I had a couple of tight ones early on, managed to scrape through them and play pretty well,” he said.
Zemlja said he struggled for rhythm throughout the match.
“Obviously I didn’t play very well,” he said.
“I had problems with the first serve, low percentage, not many winners and there weren’t many easy points.
“I didn’t feel it, it’s one of those days when nothing goes your way.”
