Jones captures third career Pro Tour title
Top seed Greg Jones has taken out his third career Pro Tour title and first since 2009 with victory at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis International #1 on Saturday.
Sydney, Australia, 13 October 2013 | Travis Dragojlo
Top seed Greg Jones has taken out his third career Pro Tour title and first since 2009 with victory at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis International #1 on Saturday.
Jones recovered from a set down to beat rising star Jordan Thompson 3-6 7-5 6-1, ending the 19-year-old’s bid for a second straight Pro Tour title after his recent victory in Alice Springs.
Currently ranked 251st, Jones had high praise for his opponent after surviving the tense struggle.
“Jordan has been playing really well these last few weeks and was making it really tough for me to get into the match. He has a bright future ahead of him,” he said.
New South Welshman Jones started sluggishly and was made pay for it as fellow statesman and No.7 seed Thompson showed why he has been the form player on the Australian Pro Tour circuit.
After pocketing the first set, Thompson’s consistency continued in the second set as he broke Jones early, yet the first cracks started to appear when, leading 4-2, he surrended his own serve.
The tussle for the second set continued andit was the experience of Jones that ultimately shone through; he snared the tight set and rolled through the third to triumph.
Jones noted that this title was important as it was played in front of his parents.
“They don’t often get to see me play so to win one while they were watching is extra special,” he said.
The Australian Pro Tour stays in Sydney for the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis International #2, with main draw matches commencing Monday.