Adelaide, Australia, 6 March 2020 | Leigh Rogers

Jordan Thompson has provided Australia with a dream start in the Davis Cup qualifying tie against Brazil in Adelaide, posting a 6-4 6-4 win over Thiago Monteiro in the opening singles rubber.

“It’s massive,” Thompson said of his victory. “I didn’t want to be sending Johnny (Millman) out there 0-1 down. It’s the perfect start being 1-0 up.”

https://twitter.com/TennisAustralia/status/1235780691889176578?s=20

Monteiro tested Thompson early, using his powerful forehand to keep the 25-year-old Australian on the back foot. However, Thompson held firm to secure the first break in the 10^th game and claim the opening set in 44 minutes.

“He told me to put returns in. Any return is a good return. Scoreboard pressure,” Thompson said of the advice captain Lleyton Hewitt shared during a tight opening set.

“You have to listen to that because Lleyton’s been out there.”

It helped world No.63-ranked Thompson quickly take control of the match. He broke the No.82-ranked Monteiro to love in his opening service game of the second set and raced to a 4-1 advantage.

Although the unforced error count was mounting for Brazil’s top-ranked player, Monteiro managed to snare the break back in the seventh game. Earning a first break point on the Thompson serve, he took advantage to curb the Australian’s building momentum and soon levelled the set at 4-all.

Yet Thompson held his nerve, holding to love in the ninth game to put the pressure back on his 25-year-old Brazilian opponent. Then just as he did in the opening set, Thompson broke Monteiro’s serve in the 10th game and secured victory in 81 minutes.

“I served at a very high percentage, made a lot of returns and didn’t miss too many balls from the back. It was just a really solid match,” Thompson said.

“It’s not easy playing Davis Cup, so I’m very pleased with that performance.”

Thompson thanked a vocal Adelaide crowd for their support.

“It’s great to have that Aussie support and know that the crowd is behind you,” he said.

Tickets for the 6-7 March tie at Adelaide’s Memorial Drive Tennis Centre are available via Ticketmaster.