Purcell/Thompson make fast start at Nitto ATP Finals

Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson kick-started the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals in style on Sunday afternoon in Turin.

The fifth-seeded Australian pair downed third seeds Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic 7-6(1), 6-3 on their debut at the prestigious season finale. Purcell and Thompson took control of the encounter during a mid-match hot streak: They stormed to the first-set tie-break before moving 3-0 ahead with a double break in the second set, a lead that ultimately proved unassailable.

“It was great. From the get-go, we were on it, we were ready to play,” said Thompson. “We’re happy to be here at the [Nitto ATP Finals] so it was massively pleasing… It’s great for our first time here. Started with a win, life couldn’t be better here.”

Dream debut in Turin for the Aussies ?

US Open champions @jordanthommmo2 & @MaxPurcell98 pick up their first win in the Mike Bryan Group!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/kxhea65rmE

After seizing a high-quality first set in the tie-break, Purcell and Thompson delivered a classy serving display in the second to complete their victory. The five-time ATP Tour champion team dropped just four points on serve in the second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, freeing them up to play aggressively in their return games.

“[The serve] will be really key this week,” said Purcell. “I feel like the courts aren’t playing that fast… We kept hitting our spots and getting through our service games pretty quick, which means that the pressure on our opponents is going to be a lot. We didn’t break in the first, but we broke three times in the second set. That just shows that we put that pressure on and got our chances.”

After improving to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series against the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champions Koolhof and Mektic, Purcell and Thompson moved to 1-0 in Mike Bryan Group. The other teams they will face in group play are Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos and Harri Heliovaara/Henry Patten.

“I think we said in March that we wanted to come to Turin," said Purcell, when asked about his first time competing at the NItto ATP Finals. "That was our goal, and to finish the year in the top 10 [of the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings], but the job’s not done and we have four more matches hopefully.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]