‘Something didn't go right': The lob that proved to be Australian's Wimbledon downfall
It was a disappointing, but not particularly surprising, finish to Thompson's best-ever run at the All England Club, which matched his two round-of-16 showings at the US Open.
The Australian retired while trailing fifth seed Taylor Fritz 6-1, 3-0 – already a double-break down in the second set – and having watched the American flash a forehand winner that he had no hope of chasing down to go 40-0 up.
At that stage, Fritz had won 40 of 52 points, and their fourth-round match had long ago lost any competitiveness as referred issues in Thompson's right leg from an ongoing back injury proved his downfall.
The world No.44 started well enough and had two game points to hold for two-all, only to aggravate the injury a point later, when he had to scurry back to the baseline to chase down a Fritz lob – and his physical problems worsened from there.
His coach Marinko Matosevic and Australia's Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt urged him from courtside to call for the trainer, which he eventually did after the third game of the second set.
There was also kinesiology tape on the inside of Thompson's right leg, which he revealed during the on-court assessment after ripping the strapping off. Soon after, he left the court for a medical timeout.
There was an eight-minute delay as all this played out, then Thompson lasted only three more points before walking to the net to put himself out of his misery.
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