THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. We spoke to you a bit about this this morning, but looking ahead to the Australian summer, Brisbane gives you the ultimate start. What are you trying to achieve?
JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, Aussie Open hasn't been my best Grand Slam. That's definitely the goal. I want to be making third and fourth round. It's the only slam I haven't made it past the second round singles and doubles. Hopefully just get some matches before then and get match fit.
Q. Why do you think your record has been like that?
JORDAN THOMPSON: I was talking to my coach about it before. He asked me the same question.
I don't know. I lost a couple of heartbreakers, a couple of tough matches. Just hasn't happened for me in Melbourne.
One was 6 in the fifth against Fognini. I was down two sets to love. Won the third and fourth. Lost the fifth in a tiebreaker. I didn't get broken for the rest of the match. Didn't go my way.
Q. Everyone's reaction when they saw Berrettini's name came up next to yours.... What were you thinking?
JORDAN THOMPSON: Big serve, big forehand. I mean, he's a big player. He's a great player. Final of Grand Slams, semis of Grand Slams. Going to have my work cut out.
Hopefully he has an off day with the serve and the forehand. No, he rarely does.
Q. We've spoken before about the past 12 months, how good it's been for you. Looking from the previous 12 months, how are you a better player than you were when you beat Rafa here last year, if you think so?
JORDAN THOMPSON: Just constantly working on my game with my coach. Obviously, yeah, I always say I'm not the biggest guy in stature on tour, so I'm trying to use my skills to my advantage, my speed to my advantage, use my volleys, all-court craft.
I feel like if you keep working on it, keep working on everything, you're going to eventually improve. It's definitely happened.
Q. The doubles form you had with Max, as well, not ideal leading into AO because you would have targeted that as a doubles pairing.
JORDAN THOMPSON: 100%. After we won the US Open, we were like, Yeah, let's go for our home slam now. It's not going to happen. Yeah, it's a stitch-up. I mean, the guy took too much saltwater in an IV bag in Bali, I think. He was unwell. That's why he went there. He went to the hospital.
Yeah, I have no good words for it. It is a joke. I mean, guys are testing positive, performance enhancers, he's gone out and taken too much saltwater, they've suspended him. Take of that what you will. Anyone looking at it goes it's so unfair.
I don't know. I don't know what is going to happen to him. Yeah, I've definitely got my strong thoughts on it.
Q. Your frustrations, his frustrations, what were those few days like trying to go through all those emotions?
JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, I was shattered. I was shattered for him. We wanted to win the Australian Open. Our last two Grand Slams was a final with match points, then go back to the next Grand Slam and we win it. Our goal was automatically, apart from Turin, was to get to Australian Open and to win it. We would have been a high seed.
Yeah, I guess anti-doping has other ideas.
Q. Probably dominating this with Max, it's supposed to be about you. What is he telling you about what the next steps will be? Is he definitely out for the next month, two months?
JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, I'm really not sure. I'm hoping it's a slap on the wrist. As I said before, guys are testing positive, they get minimal to nothing. I don't see why he should get anything. But it's not up to me.
Yeah, I think he might be getting his decision after the holiday, so... We're sitting tight.
Q. Definitely Australian Open is out, definitely not going to happen?
JORDAN THOMPSON: Yeah, it's done.
Q. You look like you're even leaner. Is that the case? Have you lost some weight?
JORDAN THOMPSON: No. I'm about the same. Hopefully I'm looking trimmer. No, I mean, I feel like I'm one of the heavier guys on tour. I don't know how. Everyone is so tall and skinny. I'm weighing in over 80 kilos. Just continually working in the gym on the running track.
Yeah, I don't really pay attention to the diet. I don't eat too badly. I guess it's just happening for the moment.
Q. Has Marinko changed anything over the summer? New approaches?
JORDAN THOMPSON: No, I mean, it's just continually working at my game. He's helped me with a lot of things, whether it be being more professional, diet, obviously on the court. As much as I don't want to admit it, he's got some good ideas.
Q. We've spoken about being seeded at a Grand Slam. That was one of your goals. You're going to achieve that at the Australian Open. Does it feel like something significant that you've ticked off or even a reward?
JORDAN THOMPSON: I mean, not really. It obviously helps being seeded. Hopefully I get a favorable draw. I haven't really thought about it too much. Been in off-season, just been enjoying home and training. Obviously been more focused, honestly, of getting down to the beach after a session and just enjoying life.
Q. Getting to go to Abu Dhabi, those opportunities are opening up because of the year you just had. Are you seeing that changing in the way people are perceiving you now?
JORDAN THOMPSON: I guess so. Doubles has obviously helped with that, as well. I mean, Grand Slam champion, 3 in the world, that helps as well as having a good singles ranking. Hopefully I can keep pressing.
Yeah, I said the goal was to get inside top 20 and hopefully get to No. 1 in doubles. I see that being tough without Maxi at the moment.
Q. Nick, what can we expect?
JORDAN THOMPSON: He's looking good. As long as his wrist holds up and his body holds up, he's going to be dangerous. I mean, he's a freak. He's got unlimited talent. He's got that serve. He's just so hard to play against.
I'm hoping he stays fit and we see him back on tour, getting inside top 20, top 10. Honestly, I think he's just lucky to be out there with the wrist injury he had and the surgery. I guess him being on the court is just a bonus in itself.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports