Incredible resurgence gets even better as seed stunned in $365k boilover — Aussie wrap

After Priscilla Hon continued her golden run in New York with a significant upset on Wednesday, she shed tears of joy when celebrating a career-best win with family and a friendship group including one surprisingly vocal local.

The Queenslander is through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time after she defeated recent Wimbledon quarterfinalist Luidmila Samsonova 4-6 6-3 6-2 in 2hr 5min on an outside court at Flushing Meadows.

But there was less joy for Jordan Thompson, who was edged by French veteran Adrian Mannarino for the second tournament in succession when beaten 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-3 in a match lasting 3hr 30min.

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Hon, who spoke about the impact a career-threatening hip injury had on her in the infancy of the pandemic, will pocket at least A$365,000 for reaching the third round and is now on the cusp of breaking into the top 100 for the first time.

The 27-year-old has taken big strides in recent months, initially qualifying for Wimbledon for the first time and now posting a five match winning streak in New York dating back to the qualifying draw that began last Monday. Understandably, she is delighted.

“It’s been a roller coaster of emotions,” she said.

“I’ve tried to keep a lid on it, even qualifying and winning my first round. I was like, ‘This is good. I don’t feel too up’. (Because) whenever I let myself feel a little too up, I almost don’t perform in the next round. So I was trying to keep a lid on it.

“But I feel like I did lost it a little bit after this match, but I’m glad I get to enjoy it for a day. I let it actually sink in and it hit me, so there were a couple of tears afterwards when I was hugging everyone.”

An opportunity to progress further in New York opened when American Ann Li upset the 16th seeded Belinda Bencic not long after the Australian qualifiers big win. The 27-year-old is determined to make the most of the chance and make winning on the tour a habit.

“That’s why this win means a lot. I have been watching a lot of players do it, my friends, and I am just like, ‘Why is it never me?’” she said.

“There are so many people saying, ‘Oh. You are so talented.’ And I’m so sick of hearing that I’m talented. I want to actually do something. So that win is definitely a big one for me, for my own belief in myself. This is a big hurdle that I have jumped over.”

She displayed superb variety against the 17th seed, with her ability to disrupt the rhythm of Samsonova with chipped forehands and drop shots, along with regular ventures to the net, a feature in what was an impressive display.

Hon got off to a flyer in her first grand slam second round in five years, breaking the Wimbledon quarterfinalist in the second game. But as the set progressed, the No.17 seed started to win more of the important points.

But the Russian settled and was able to clinch a marathon game lasting 18 points to retrieve the service break when trailing 3-1, which proved critical to her ability to wrest the momentum her way. Hon had five game points but erred on the majority in that game.

Late in the set the 17th seed was able to break again to take the lead for the first time at 5-4 before saving a break back point deep with a timely ace on the way to winning the opener.

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Similarly to the first set, the 27-year-old fired out of the blocks when clinching the first three games. But this time she did not squander the advantage in what was an impressive effort.

She found herself tested to protect the service break at a similar point in the second set, but a beautiful backhand winner double-footed her rival at 4-2, 30-all.

With the court almost completely covered in shadows, Hon was able to level the match, starting the service game in which she clinched the second set with a superbly constructed serve-and-volley point and closing it with her 12th ace for the match.

The closing stages of the set followed the mantra the Brisbane resident has adopted with determination, namely a desire to go after the match rather than allowing her rivals to dictate terms. And all the way through a man with an American accent urged her on.

It turns out this is a superfan, a New Yorker named Eric who took a shine to the way Hon played last year and has continued to follow her progress. After reaching out to congratulate the Aussie, Hon arranged some tickets and now Eric is attending ever match here.

“He started coming last year and I really like him being there. There are so many tense moments in matches and he will yell something and that will make me smile and it keeps me calm and that is how I play my best tennis,” she said.

“At the most random times, where it is such a big moment in a match, (he will yell out) and I’m laughing and that keeps me relaxed and it helps me serve well, everything.”

The Australian qualifier had three opportunities to start the decider in the same fashion as the opening two sets, but some superb serving from the powerful Russian enabled her to escape a 0-40 deficit.

From holding three break points in the first game, Hon faced one in her next service game but was able to nail another ace down the T to avert the peril. Not surprisingly, her superfan loved this moment. But from there, it was all Hon, who finished off the match superbly.

The Aussie squandered another break opportunity at 2-all when netting a backhand return but was able to make her move two points later when Samsonova overhit a groundstroke. When she broke again two games later, Hon was within range of her biggest win.

Thompson, meanwhile, will rue opportunities that went begging at different stages throughout the match against Mannarino after failing to back up his run to the last 16 a year ago.

The Australian had two opportunities to snare a break when leading 4-3 in the first set but his French rival, who hits a flatter ball than the most tour players and strings his racquet at a low tension, saved both in extended rallies where Thompson opted to play defensively.

Unfortunately for the Sydneysider, that seemed to boost the confidence of the crafty left-hander, who proceeded to seize the first break of the match in the following game.

The Australian’s frustration mounted in the second set but, after an extended game on the Mannarino serve when leading 3-2, he was finally able to secure a break on his fifth change when the Frenchman netted a forehand volley.

He failed to serve out the set in a lengthy game at 5-3 but was able to rally in a tight tiebreaker, with aggression in the latter couple of points eventually reaping dividends as he levelled the match with more than two hours on the clock.

But he endured some misfortune early in the third set when the left-hander, courtesy of a couple of groundstrokes that clipped the net cord, managed to break for a 3-1 lead.

The Australian conjured a couple of chances to break back when trailing 2-4 but did not do enough with an approach shot on the second, which made the following volley too testing.

It was a similar case in the fourth set, with Mannarino taking control of the match to his advantage in their head to head to seven wins from 11 matches.

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