Launceston TAS, Australia, 14 February 2015 | David Packman

Unseeded Jordan Thompson has progressed to the semifinals of the 2015 Neville Smith Forest Products Launceston International with a straight sets defeat of injured countryman Ben Mitchell on Friday.

The 20-year-old from Sydney looked comfortable from the outset, accounting for his higher ranked opponent – who came into the match with a back complaint –6-2 6-3 in just 75 minutes while only facing a single break point.

The pair shares the same coach in Des Tyson and they know each other’s game particularly well.

“It made it really tough,” Thompson said. “I knew I’d have to play pretty solid.”

A semifinal berth in Launceston is just desserts for Thompson – currently ranked No.268 – after a promising start to the season where he won the Australian Open Play-off for the second consecutive year.

Despite losing in the opening round of the main draw to Portugal’s Joao Sousa at Melbourne Park, he is looking for a breakout year.

“I’m hoping it is,” he said. “But I’ve got to make that happen.

“I’m working on my weaknesses, getting bigger and stronger. Working on improving all aspects of my game. If I do that, the results will take care of themselves.”

Thompson next faces Korean Hyeon Chung, the fifth seed. The 18-year-old is attempting back-to-back ATP Challenger titles after his triumph in Burnie last week.

Despite losing twice to Chung previously, Thompson is optimistic about his chances.

“He’s played a lot of matches in a row now,” Thompson said.

Chung finished strongly to take out local wildcard Harry Bourchier 6-0 3-6 6-1, after the teen Tasmanian forced a break in the opening game of the deciding set.

Bourchier had already made an impressive run through the tournament that included the scalp of fourth seed Hiroki Moriya in the first round.

On the other side of the draw, Bjorn Frantangelo won the battle of the Americans, defeating eighth seed Bradley Klahn 7-6(2) 6-3 while China’s Zhang Ze accounted for Kiwi Jose (Rubin) Statham 6-4 6-3.

Gavrilova extends winning streak

In the women’s event, third seed Daria Gavrilova continued her winning ways, marching into the semifinal with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Japanese Junri Namigata.

Like Chung, the Australian will be looking to make it consecutive titles with a win in Launceston, after her own success in Burnie.

Gavrilova has booked a semifinal showdown with top seed Irina Falconi, her opponent in the Burnie final, after the American made comfortable work of Chinese Zhaoxuan Yang.

In the other quarterfinal, Thai Varatchaya Wongteanchai – who will now face Croatian Tereza Mrdeza – upstaged second seed Eri Hozumi.