Australian Open: Hongkonger Thompson does not feel ‘chances were missed’ in juniors loss

Teenager Kai Thompson said he did not feel he had missed out after his first Australian Open Junior Championships came to an abrupt end on Friday, when he lost a one-set lead and crashed out in the quarter-finals.

Having advanced to the last eight without dropping a set, following wins over opponents from Greece, Australia and Romania, the Hongkonger faced Kazakhstan’s Zangar Nurlanuly for a place in the semi-finals.

But despite taking an early lead, Thompson eventually lost 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in two hours and 50 minutes in Melbourne, despite his opponent struggling with cramp.

“Obviously he had cramps, but in the points he was still fighting and playing to 100 per cent, so I think that I didn’t really miss any chances,” Thompson said. “I was fighting myself as well, and I think it just comes down to experience.

“You win some, you lose some. I wouldn’t look at it any other way.”

The city’s tennis rising star said he had a lot to take away after one week in Australia.