Queensland expertise Tahlia Kokkinis scored her first Grand Slam win this week within the Australian Open 2024 Junior Championships.
Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Six years in the past, a starry eyed Tahlia Kokkinis stepped out at Rod Laver Area to toss the coin earlier than an Australian Open semifinal between Caroline Wozniacki and Elise Mertens.
It was an unforgettable second for the younger Sizzling Pictures Tennis participant from Brisbane.
Kokkinis is again at Melbourne Park this week, creating much more on-court reminiscences as a wildcard within the Australian Open Junior Championships.
“To play right here is sort of a dream,” beamed the 15-year-old.
“The environment is nice. I actually just like the Australian assist, it’s wonderful. I really like enjoying in entrance of crowds, I just like the constructive vitality that they create.”
The world No.283 made a formidable begin to her singles marketing campaign yesterday, powering previous Kazakhstan’s
Kokkinis credited the group assist for uplifting her in opposition to
“The group actually helped me,” Kokkinis stated. “After I heard that assist it motivated me and made me keep targeted.”
A younger Tahlia Kokkinis with Elise Mertens and Caroline Wozniacki at Australian Open 2018. Image: Getty Photos
Her ladies’ doubles marketing campaign ended within the opening spherical right this moment, bowing out in a detailed three-set battle alongside fellow Australian Koharu Nishikawa.
Kokkinis, who represented Australia within the Junior Billie Jean King Cup Finals at Spain in November, now turns her consideration to her second-round singles match tomorrow.
She performs sixteenth seed Iva Ivanova, a 17-year-old Bulgarian ranked No.22 within the ITF World Tour junior rankings.
“I do know her, however I’ve by no means performed in opposition to her,” Kokkinis stated. “I do know she’s a reasonably good participant, so I’ll must play nicely.”
Kokkinis is having fun with all of the perks of competing at a Grand Slam match for the primary time, describing digital lining calling, a serve clock and the chance to replay shut line calls as “actually cool”.
She does admit, nevertheless, that being surrounded by skilled gamers nonetheless leaves her starstruck.
“I’ve seen lots of them within the fitness center,” Kokkinis stated of the world’s top-ranked gamers.
“I’m speechless every time I stroll previous any of them, I can’t say something.”
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Aussies in motion – Australian Open
TODAY’S RESULTS
Women’ singles, second spherical
[4] Hannah Klugman (GBR) d [Q] Alana Subasic (AUS) 6-1 6-2
Women’ doubles, first spherical
Shiho Tsujioka (JPN)/Hikari Yamamoto (JPN) d [WC] Kimiko Cooper (AUS)/Gabby Gregg (AUS) 6-2 6-1
Laura Brunkel (DEN)/Olivia Carneiro (BRA) d [WC] Tahlia Kokkinis (AUS)/Koharu Nishikawa (AUS) 6-4 3-6 [10-6]
COMING UP
Women’ singles, second spherical
[6] Emerson Jones (AUS) v Mika Buchnik (ISR)
Maya Joint (AUS) v [Q] Isabelle Lacy (GBR)
[WC] Tahlia Kokkinis (AUS) v [16] Iva Ivanova (BUL)
> VIEW: Australian Open 2024 ladies’ singles draw
Women’ doubles, first spherical
[7] Emerson Jones (AUS)/Mika Stojsavljevic (GBR) v Reina Goto (JPN)/Junhan Zhang (CHN)
Renee Alame (AUS)/Alana Subasic (AUS) v Asylzhan Arystanbekova (KAZ)/Yuliya Perapekhina
Women’ doubles, second spherical
[6] Maya Joint (AUS)/Kristiana Sidorova v TBC
> VIEW: Australian Open 2024 ladies’ doubles draw
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