New York, USA, 3 September 2012 | Tennis Australia

Jordan Thompson has begun his 2012 US Open junior campaign with a win, getting past Sweden’s Elias Ymer in three sets.

The 18-year-old Sydneysider righted the ship after dropping the second set, winning 6-3 2-6 6-3 in one hour and 44 minutes.

“I just told myself I’ve got to pick up the physicality, get the ball out of his comfort zone … I mixed up my serve a bit. Tried and throw him off, give him a little bit more variety,” Thompson explained of his mentality going into the decider.

“I competed very hard and I think I composed myself well … got myself up for it and got over the line.”

Thompson, who has risen to his current mark of No.31 in the junior ranks after solid results during the 2012 season – including a semifinal at the Astrid Bowl in Belgium and a run to the quarters at the Canadian Open prior to coming to New York – faces world No.70 Stefan Kozlov of the United States in the second round.

He said his run in Canada imbued him with confidence ahead of the US Open.

”It was great preparation. I got matches under my belt and it got better as it went on, better after every match. I got here (to New York) yesterday and had a hit and felt good,” he explained.

Thompson is making his debut at the US Open and spent his first day ever in the Big Apple exploring the city, his main goal being to find a pair of tennis shoes to replace the pair that he had worn to the nub in Canada.

He said playing at Flushing Meadows was a completely different experience to anywhere he had previously competed.

“It’s like a circus out there,” he said.

“There’s a lot of people – obviously it’s going to be busy as it’s the US Open, but I didn’t expect it to be quite this hectic.”

He plays his second round match on Tuesday.