"It can be anywhere between three to 18 months": Jordan Thompson's absence explained in career threatening injury

Monday, 21 September 2026 at 01:30

Former World No. 26 Jordan Thompson has not played for nearly the entirety of 2026 with the Australian Open, but now it has been confirmed why he won't be playing.

The 32-year-old Australian, a former World No.26 has provided an update on the situation and explained the reasons behind his long absence.

Already bothered by back issues last year, he had to undergo another surgical procedure. He was involved in the punditry at the Pat Rafter Arena for the match between Australia and Poland and told Channel 9 that he had undergone back surgery in May.

His recovery is taking a long time, though, and is going on longer than expected. He said that in theory he could be out for three more months or 18 months overall, so in theory he might not take to the court for around three years overall by the time he is back.

Given that he is a relative veteran of the sport at this rate too, it is very much one where it could be one that threatens his career at the end of it all.

The S1 nerve is a nerve root located in the lower part of the spinal column, at the level of the sacrum. When compressed or irritated, it can cause pain in the lower back and along the back of the leg as well as tingling, loss of sensation, or muscle weakness.

Jordan Thompson throws ball in the air.

He did not give further details on the procedures and what he had done, and it remains to be seen as a result when he is back on court.

"It hasn't been a great year for me; it's been a slow year," said Thompson to Channel 9 courtside during the latest weekend of action for Australia in the Davis Cup.

"I'm not even sure (on the return timeframe); it's the S1 nerve that's giving me grief, so I really need to recover."

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"It can be anywhere between three and 18 months, I've been told, and still not firing yet, so I haven't hit any balls. But I've just started back up at the gym and swimming a bit more and starting to feel better, but it's been a long four months since the surgery."

"I haven't seen too many benefits, but they're coming slowly."

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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