Sydney, Australia, 11 October 2013 | Travis Dragojlo

Top seed Greg Jones has been taken to the brink by fellow New South Welshman Blake Mott on Thursday at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis International #1.

Jones eventually overcame an unlucky Mott, who watched as Jones clipped a net-cord winner at 5-5 in the final-set tiebreak to eventually run out a 4-6 6-3 7-6(5) victor.

Jones will next take on third seeded Adam Feeney, who bested Japanese sixth seed Yasutaka Uchiyama 7-5 7-6(4) before the high temperatures kicked in at Sydney Olympic Park.

The bottom half of the draw will feature a semifinal between seventh seed Jordan Thompson and No.4 seed Alex Bolt.

Bolt was tested in Thursday’s quarterfinal by Queensland’s Gavin Van Peperzeel; after two tight sets Bolt broke away in the third to come out a 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 6-1 victor.

Meanwhile, Thompson continued his exquisite form as he took down New Zealand second seed Jose Statham, 6-3 6-3. Thompson will be looking to capture his second Pro Tour title in a row after winning in Alice Springs two weeks ago.

Also taking place on Thursday was the men’s doubles final, which went the way of top seeds Dane Propoggia and Jose Statham; the Aussie-Kiwi pairing defeated fourth seeded Japanese pair Kento Takeuchi and Yasutaka Uchiyama 4-6 6-3 [10-3].

The pair now have a combined 46 Pro Tour doubles titles and this week’s victory is their sixth as a pair.

Singles semifinal action kicks off at 11am on Friday at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, with Bolt taking on Thompson and their match followed by the Jones-Feeney battle.

Aussie seeds shine in Margaret River

Although fourth seed Sachie Ishizu from Japan went down to Anett Kontaveit from Estonia, Aussie seeds Olivia Rogowska and Arina Rodionova shone through on a sunny day on Thursday at the Margaret River Tennis International.

Rogowska needed three sets to dismiss Taiwan’s Wen-Hsin Hsu, while Rodionova dismissed Victorian qualifier Masa Jovanovic 6-2 6-2.