Thompson set for monster million-dollar US Open pay day

Source: US Open
Jordan Thompson is in line for a monster million-dollar pay day after earning a shot of grand slam redemption in New York.
Two months after suffering Wimbledon finals heartbreak, Thompson and his great Sydney mate Max Purcell are through to the US Open menâs doubles title final.
Thompson and Purcell outclassed Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-finals on Thursday (Friday AEST) to edge to within one tantalising win of taking the title.
They are the first all-Australian pairing to make the final at Flushing Meadows since the legendary Woodies â Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde â scooped the title in 1996.
The tense victory comes after Thompson and Purcell ousted top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the quarter-finals. There was a spirited challenge from the Americans, who were boosted by a vocal hometown crowd.
âWe were in cruise control for the most part,â Thompson told Stan Sport.
âBut credit to them, they put up a fight and made it really stressful. [Luckily] we scrapped through.â
Landing a maiden grand slam trophy together would not only atone somewhat for failing to convert either of two match points in a crushing finals loss to Brit Henry Patten and Finn Harri Heliovaara at the All England Club.
It would also secure Thompson a life-changing cheque for $US700,000 ($1.04 million) for a magical fortnightâs work in the Big Apple.
The 30-year-old is already certain to bank $US325,000 ($482,000) for reaching the last 16 of the singles, where it took his Australian Davis Cup teammate and world No.10 Alex de Minaur to stop his breakout run.
Thompson and Purcell will also split the $US750,000 ($1.13 million) winnersâ purse if they beat fourth seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic or Germans Kevin Krawletz and Tim Puetz in the final on Saturday (2am Sunday AEST).
Money, though, canât buy a grand slam title and Thompson is hell bent on snaring one.
âItâs incredible. My first full year of doubles and weâve managed to go to a Wimbledon final and a US Open final and hopefully you can go one better here,â said Thompson, crediting Purcell for carrying him.
âItâs not really me. Just ask him about out his shoulders. I was jumping on and now itâs back-to-back finals.â
Purcell already has a grand slam trophy, having partnered fellow Australian Matt Ebden to win the Wimbledon menâs doubles two years ago before teaming up with Thompson.
âThatâs what makes it so special because weâre such good mates and, every time we get a win, I just feel overloaded with happiness,â Purcell said.
âGetting that feeling that itâs not just the achievement, itâs who you do it with.
âI feel like weâve got such a great camp and we work really hard this year to kind of make it a goal to win a grand slam.
âTo be one match away again, itâs always really special.â
Making the US Open final has also solidified Thompsonâs and Purcellâs chances of qualifying for the eight-team season-ending championships in Turin.
The dynamic duo have risen to sixth in the points standings and they will climb to third if they win the championship.
Win or lose, Thompson is also on track to clinch a first-time grand slam seeding at the Australian Open in January after claiming a career-high singles ranking of No.29 in the world for his efforts in New York.
-with AAP
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