Right off the bat, I have to admit that Thanasi Kokkinakis has always been one of my favorite players. His explosive serve and powerful forehand make his game exciting to watch, and although his backhand may not be as lethal, it still allows him to go on the offensive.
Kokkinakis is traditionally strong in Australia, and the Adelaide tournament holds a special place in his heart. It's his hometown event, and the support he receives from the local crowd is unmatched. In 2022, he reached the semifinals here, and in 2023, he made it to the quarterfinals—an achievement he'll look to defend this year.
However, his return to tennis comes after a major injury setback. He barely played last year due to a torn pectoral muscle that required complex surgery in February 2023 to reattach the muscle back to his shoulder. This kept him off the court for basicly the entire year.
In 2023, he only appeared at Adelaide and the Australian Open. At Adelaide, he beat Nishioka and Etcheverry in close three-set matches but then had to withdraw before his quarterfinal match against Korda. At the Australian Open, he managed to defeat Safiullin in the first round but lost in five sets to Jack Draper, despite having a 2-1 lead.
This season marks his return to competitive tennis. He recently teamed up with his good friend Nick Kyrgios in doubles at the Brisbane tournament thanks to a wild card entry. They managed to defeat the veteran duo of Ebden and Ram in the opening round, but fell short in the second round to Doumbia and Reboul. Both matches went to super tiebreaks, suggesting that rust still clings to his game—understandable after such a long layoff.
Now back in Adelaide, Kokkinakis has received a singles wild card, and expectations are building among fans and tennis watchers alike. The key question is: what level can we expect from him? He's set to face Korda in the first round—the same player he was supposed to meet in last year's quarterfinal before withdrawing. Korda went on to reach the final, and he's already warmed up this season with a quarterfinal run in Brisbane.
Bookmakers seem to have little faith in Kokkinakis this time. While his odds were around 2.30 last year, they've now ballooned to over 5.00—a harsh reminder of how uncertain his return is perceived to be.
A Career Derailed by Injuries
It's truly unfortunate that injuries have plagued Thanasi's career so severely. He's been riddled with them and unable to maintain a consistent schedule, which has left him ranked just 450th in the ATP rankings, far from his career-high of World No. 65. There was a time when he seemed destined for the Top 30 or 35, with enough talent and the work ethic to get there. Now, at 30 years old, one has to wonder how much longer he can realistically continue, and whether he can make it even back into the Top 100.
He reminds many of his fellow Australian and close friend Nick Kyrgios. While Kyrgios had even more natural talent, he didn't put in the same dedication and focus that Kokkinakis has shown through the years. Their doubles run to win the Australian Open in 2022 is unforgettable—two showmen feeding off each other's energy, a perfect storm of talent and camaraderie that brought a Grand Slam title to their home crowd.
Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are mirror images in some ways, but fundamentally different in others. Thanasi's career has been disrupted by unavoidable injuries, while Kyrgios's has largely been held back by lack of motivation and discipline. It's why I have more sympathy for Thanasi—he gave everything he could but was held back by circumstances beyond his control.
Looking Ahead
As they both approach the twilight of their careers, the journey ahead won't be easy. But neither of them is giving up. Thanasi's best chance in his opening round against Korda might be to hold serve effectively and force tiebreaks, where anything can happen. With the home crowd behind him, and his powerful serve and forehand doing the talking, he still has a fighting chance.