Thanasi Kokkinakis visited the studio as this week’s visitor on The Sit-Down, discussing his time away from the court docket, present ventures, AO recollections and tennis desires.
Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 27 Might 2025 | Matt Trollope
Thanasi Kokkinakis, at age 29, is working via one other stint on the sidelines after pectoral reattachment surgical procedure.
The favored Australian star doesn’t precisely know when he’ll be again, however insists he nonetheless has glory to chase when he resumes his enjoying profession.
Throughout an interview for this week’s episode of The Sit-Down podcast, Kokkinakis mentioned it felt uncommon being at Melbourne Park throughout the colder months, however that he was having fun with the change-up.
“I’m positive once I’m prepared I’ll be eager to get again into it,” he mentioned.
“It’s bizarre clearly lacking these massive occasions in the mean time [like Roland Garros], however it’s one thing that I’ve carried out lots of instances up to now, and it’s simply a part of my journey, I suppose. One other setback, however I’ll get there.”
The previous world No.65 is having fun with the chance to discover extra avenues off the court docket, together with commentary as a part of the Channel 9 broadcast of Roland Garros in Australia.
But Kokkinakis insists he’s “nonetheless bought time within the sport” and that he continues to evolve greater than 10 years on from turning professional.
Meaning each shorter and long term objectives when he ultimately comes again, and never dropping sight of the largest dream of all.
“Oh, Aussie Open. Profitable Aussie Open. There can be nothing that trumps that,” he replied instantly when requested about that profession dream.
“[Winning AO 2022 with Nick Kyrgios in] doubles is cool, however not fairly as cool as profitable the singles. Clearly it’s a great distance away and also you’ve bought lots of nice gamers within the sport, and fingers crossed my arm will get again, and higher. We’ll see what occurs there. However yeah, profitable Aussie Open can be the last word aim.
“Smaller time period can be to try to win one other title. [And] Profitable Davis Cup with Australia can be large; that’s one thing that we’ve gotten so shut with over time, and I feel we’ll simply preserve knocking on that door.
“I feel we’ve bought an amazing captain and a few good gamers on the prime main the best way, so who is aware of? It doesn’t take a lot.
“That’s the factor I’ve observed with tennis; it could possibly all look fairly bleak, after which it simply takes one form of massive week or outcome, and also you’re again there and swiftly persons are speaking about you as a severe participant versus somebody that hasn’t crammed their potential.”
Kokkinakis’ immense potential was recognised early.
And this was particularly the case on the Australian Open, the place he reached the boys’ singles last in 2013, gained his first Grand Slam main-draw match in 2014 at age 17, then surprised eleventh seed Ernests Gulbis within the first spherical of 2015.
“The Gulbis match was loopy although, as a result of everybody was banging on the sidelines, and it’s the primary time I felt like my identify sort of bought on the market,” he mentioned when requested about his strongest AO recollections.
“There’s a video on YouTube that AO put up, I feel, and it’s me getting mobbed after the match… It’s in all probability the primary and solely time I really feel like Cristiano Ronaldo, in order that was cool (laughter).
“Then just a few epic five-set battles I’ve had right here; clearly [against Andy] Murray, had an enormous one there. Profitable doubles with Nick. I’ve bought too many [memories]. And hopefully I can create a number of extra.
“To be sincere, any time I can go in entrance of the followers and the gang and simply how a lot they get behind me and assist me, simply happening these rowdy courts – like Kia Area, Showcourt 3, John Cain – all of them simply go nuts.
“It’s why you play and it’s what retains me pushed to get on my rehab journey and get again there.”
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