Australian wildcard Jordan Thompson has sprung the biggest upset of his career to defeat Spanish eighth seed David Ferrer at the Brisbane International.
The 22-year-old world No.79 stuck with the dogged former world No.3 after conceding the opening set to pull off the 4-6 7-5 7-5 result on his fifth match point, to reach his first tour quarterfinal.
With Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt cheering on in his box, the Sydney 22-year-old scrapped superbly from the baseline in the second-round clash against the Spanish veteran.
Thompson gave up a break in both the second and third sets to the former world No.3 and French Open finalist before holding his nerve to break him back for both.
With the parochial centre court fans on the edge of their seats, the Rio Olympian finally took the win thanks to a marathon rally where he showed fantastic composure against one of the most consistent players on the tour.
“I was feeling pretty good until the last rally,” he said. “I don’t know how many balls the last rally was, but yeah, definitely felt (the body) after that rally.
“It’s impossible to wear down David Ferrer.”
Thompson will now play his first ATP quarter-final against world No.5 Kei Nishikori who also had to come from behind to beat American qualifier Jared Donaldson in three sets on Wednesday.
A measure of the third-highest-ranked Australian’s display was that Bernard Tomic, the world No.26, was bundled out 6-3 7-5 by Ferrer in the first round.
Thompson’s previous biggest singles win was a first-round victory over a wildcard at the French Open last year while he and Hewitt celebrated a memorable doubles fightback at Wimbledon last year.
Ferrer was the second seed to fall within two hours at the Queensland Tennis Centre, just after Frenchman Lucas Pouille surrendered in the second round due to a foot injury.
Pouille was trailing Brit Kyle Edmund 6-3 3-1 when he called it quits three games after receiving treatment for blisters.
The world No.14 was leading 1-0 during the medical break when he had the toes and front of his right foot heavily strapped.
Pouille, the sixth seed, was backing up 24 hours after coming back from 0-5 down to beat compatriot Gilles Simon in two tie-break sets on Tuesday.
Nishikori survived a scare, outlasting 20-year-old Donaldson 4-6 6-4 6-3 after almost two-and-a-half hours.