Thompson calls for change after controversial loss
Melbourne Park favourite Jordan Thompson has fallen short of re-enacting his first-round heroics of a year ago, going down in a tense five-set thriller at the Australian Open.
The 23-year-old Australian didn't land a single blow in the first two sets against Argentine Nicolas Kicker, ranked six spots ahead of him, but battled back before losing 6-3 6-1 4-6 3-6 6-3 in 3 hours and 43 minutes.
Thompson sprung his first home-slam upset last year, coming up trumps after going the distance with Portugal's Joao Sousa.
Ranked 99 in the world, Thompson grew increasingly frustrated throughout the match, and was eventually forced to undergo treatment on what seemed to be an abdominal issue.
After failing to convert a single break-point chance in the first two sets, Thompson pounced at 5-4 to steal the third.
A pressure-releasing racquet throw after losing his opening service game in the fourth lit a fire under the third-ranked Aussie as he rattled off two breaks of serve to take it to a fifth.
The Australian Davis Cup team staple seized an early 2-0 lead in the decider, but his momentum stalled after a controversial line call in the third game.
Not happy with Russian chair umpire Anastasia Kosheleva's call to replay the point after Hawk-Eye ruled his ball in, Thompson didn't mince his words.
"You guys never do your jobs, never," Thompson told Kosheleva in the fifth.
"Tell me he was going to make the ball, tell me that.
"I'm going to get reviewed for turning up late, you should get reviewed for that."
The critical game came not long after with Thompson letting six break points slip in eight-game deuce.
He never recovered, dropping serve after calling for the trainer at 3-2.
Post-match, a frustrated Thompson refused to label the decision a "turning point" in the match, but admitted it "certainly didn't help".
"The way I saw it he even gave up on that ball, he had no intention of making it," he said.
"He thought it was going out too, I reckon."
The young Australian said the current replay system gave too much discretion to the match official.
"It's up to the umpire, and I think that's a real grey area," Thompson said.
"I think they've got to fix that."
