By his own reckoning Thanasi Kokkinakis’s career has been a ‘pretty crazy story’ – overnight the Australian world number 108 wrote an exciting new chapter.
Tennis: Daniil Medvedev has been knocked out of the French Open after a shock Rd1 defeat at the hands of Thiago Seyboth Wild.
Kokkinakis outlasted 2015 Roland Garros champion, Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, in a five-set marathon to prevail 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3.
The match up was a grudge match eight years in the making, after Nick Kyrgios infamously ignited a feud with a tasteless on court sledge suggesting the duo were part of a love triangle.
Kokkinakis, 27, was left to rue a slow start to the fourth set tiebreak as Wawrinka raced to a 5-0 lead to ultimately force a deciding set.
But Kokkinakis opened the fifth set with a 4-0 run. Wawrinka then saved four match points, but couldn’t stop the courageous Aussie who won in four hours and 38 minutes.
Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis (L) comforts Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka after his victory. Picture: AFP
It was a huge relief for Kokkinakis to prevail having lost a five set epic to Andy Murray at the Australian Open.
“The first set and a half he was playing I think the best tennis he can play,” said Kokkinakis.
“I was just trying to hang in there. I lost a match in a Grand Slam earlier this year against Murray from two sets to love [up], I didn’t want to do it against another legend.
“Having 40/0 [in the last game], you can imagine the things coming into my mind. He never went away. It seemed like when he was down, he was playing better tennis, but I just trusted myself and I’m so happy.
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“Back in the third round on clay, who would’ve thought it for an Australian, but my game suits it here, I love it.
“2015 was the last time I won a match at Roland Garros, and I made the third round… I love the energy, I love the atmosphere and we’ll see what happens.”
Kokkinakis will now face Karen Khachanov, the big hitting Russian who ended Kyrgios’ golden run at the US Open last year.
KYRGIOS STIRS POT AHEAD OF STAN, KOKKINAKIS MATCHUP
– Todd Balym
Even when he’s not playing, Nick Kyrgios is stirring the pot.
The injured Australian tennis star makes no secret of his bromance with his doubles grand slam champion partner Thanasi Kokkinakis, often lending words of support for his long time friend whenever he is on court in singles action.
But it’s a spicy round two clash at the French Open that Kokkinakis faces that has brought out a mischievous Kyrgios.
In one tweet highlighting the clash with Swiss star Stan Wawrinka Kyrgios managed to ignite memories of perhaps his most classless moment in sport.
KOKK V STAN ðððð¿ð¿ð¿ð¿LFG HAHAHAHAHA CMONNNNNâ¦. this is what we live forâ¦â¦. Stan donât wanna lose this one ð«£
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) May 30, 2023
As fans were quick to point out, it was the first career meeting between Kokkinakis and Wawrinka.
But those with long memories recall the duo were also the centre of a love triangle – one which Kyrgios made public in a shameful display of on court sledging at the Montreal Masters in 2015.
Kyrgios copped a $10,000 fine for telling Wawrinka mid-match: “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend, sorry to tell you that mate.”
Nick Kyrgios. Picture: Carmen JASPERSEN / AFP
At the time Wawrinka was dating fellow tennis player Donna Vekic.
Wawrinka and Kyrgios had a confrontation in the player rooms after the match, but the animosity has lingered thereafter.
Kyrgios might not have referenced the infamous sledge in his tweet, but that’s the skill in his veiled post.
Kyrgios has thrown fuel on a fire he lit eight years ago and he can only hope it’s not his mate Kokkinakis who goes down in flames during the second round clash on Wednesday.