Jordan Thompson says he will still draw plenty of positives from his Brisbane International tennis campaign despite a comprehensive quarterfinal defeat to Kei Nishikori.
Japanese world No.5 Nishikori needed just over an hour on Friday to sweep aside Thompson with a commanding 6-1 6-1 victory on Pat Rafter Arena, extinguishing Australia’s last hope at the tournament.
Nishikori will face Stan Wawrinka, who had earlier beaten unseeded Brit Kyle Edmund, for a spot in Sunday’s decider.
Sydney-based Thompson had become a fan favourite at the Queensland Tennis Centre after his stunning first-round upset of Spanish eighth seed David Ferrer but never looked a chance against a determined Nishikori.
“Maybe, I came out a little bit slow. But he was playing pretty bloody well from the start, and he continued to play that way,” he said.
“That’s why he’s a top-five player. He didn’t let up at all. I couldn’t really dictate play. He was just hitting it too big for me on the day.
“(But) it’s positive. It’s the first week of 2017 and I made a quarterfinal here in Brisbane.
“We’re still in the doubles. (I’m) getting matches under my belt, as well. It’s definitely a positive week.”