Jordan Thompson has plenty of highlights to look back on across his ATP Tour career so far.
A high of No. 30 in the PIF ATP Rankings, one singles title and six doubles crowns on the ATP Tour, and four victories against Top 10 opponents all feature on his tennis resume. Yet for the Australian, perhaps the thrill of all those achievements pales in comparison with one summer’s day in Sydney earlier this year.
A rugby league fanatic, Thompson was invited to join a training session with his beloved National Rugby League (NRL) side, Wests Tigers. He didn’t need asking twi
“Honestly, when I finished, I went out for dinner and drinks at the end of the night, and I was like, ‘That was the best day of my life’,” Thompson told ATPTour.com. “I guess I’d always looked up to the coaches that were there, and they were running the show, and they were so welcoming.
“They let me join in on pretty much everything apart from the full-on game. I didn’t want a part of that anyway, I would have got destroyed! But I got to play, and it was honestly the best experience of my life.”
hompson has previously stated that if he had not become a tennis player, he would have played rugby. So how did his skills match up compared to the Tigers’ roster?
“I don’t think they were too bad,” said the Sydneysider. “Obviously, I’m a lot smaller than them, but I think if I played rugby league, I’d try and beef up. I think I went okay, my speed was alright, my stamina was probably at the top end. I guess it was like I was on the court, trying to be pretty solid.”
Although life travelling the world on the ATP Tour can make being a committed NRL fan difficult, Thompson’s passion for the Tigers often overrides barriers such as tricky time zones or an inconveniently scheduled tennis match.
“I [get up in the mornings] to watch it,” he said. “I haven’t missed a game yet. And if it’s on at like, 3 a.m. I’ll turn my phone off, I won’t check any messages until I watch the game.
“Last year when I went back [to Australia], I went to a game in the middle of winter, and they won [66-18]. So it’s like the record that they’ve put on, and I was there to see it. It was pretty cool, so I guess I have to get back more often.”
Thompson’s support has been reciprocated in the past by the Tigers, who celebrated on social media in 2022 when he helped Australia reach its first Davis Cup final for 19 years.
