Thanasi Kokkinakis

[Rroggerr]

[DUN I LOVE]

Oglądam ten mecz i jestem pod coraz większym wrażeniem gry Thanasiego. Niczego nowego specjalnie się nie dowiaduje (porównując do jesiennych CH), ale siła serwisu, jego różnorodność plus ten niszczycielski fh, to podstawy gry, jakich nie ma chyba nikt z obecnie wchodzących do salony.

Spodziewam się bardzo dobrych wyników w lutym, gdzie czekają go australijskie CH.

[filip.g]

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Spoiler:

Had a great week in Brisbane qualifying for my first ever ATP event and the playing Hewitt in a packed house. Now back home to Adelaide for the World Tennis Challenge

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thanasi- ... 3565819527

[Advantage]

Thanasi Kokkinakis otrzymał dziką kartę do turnieju głównego Australian Open 2014.

[grzes430]

06.01.2014

Najwyższy ranking w karierze: 570

[DUN I LOVE]

Australian Open 2014: pierwszy wygrany mecz na najwyższym szczeblu.



Z przytupem wkroczył w zawodową karierę Thanasi, pokonując w 4 setach Igora Sijslinga w meczu pierwszej rundy Australian Open 2014. Thanasi zwyciężył 76(4) 06 76(3) 62 i w nagrodę zagra z Rafaelem Nadalem w kolejnym meczu.

To pierwszy wygrany mecz 17-letniego tenisisty z Marion City do zawodowych statystyk i od razu w Wielkim Szlemie. Brawo.

Kokkinakis said, "I think I've had a couple good experiences, qualifying in Brisbane playing Lleyton [Hewitt] on that big centre court there. I think it was all a good experience for me, just building up to play these moments.

"I'm really happy I will have played two of the greatest players to play the game. I'm playing Nadal in a couple days' time. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'll go out there to win."

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... nfils.aspx

[Advantage]

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2014
Get To Know: Thanasi Kokkinakis
Melbourne, Australia


Thanasi Kokkinakis notched his first
win at a Grand Slam during his
debut at the 2014 Australian Open.

Thanasi Kokkinakis, ranked World No. 570, defeated Igor Sijsling 7-6(4), 0-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 on his Grand Slam debut at the 2014 Australian Open. The 17-year-old Australian earned a second-round clash with World No. 1 and 2009 Melbourne champion Rafael Nadal.

In 2013, Kokkinakis reached the final of the boys’ singles at both the Australian Open and the US Open.

ATPWorldTour.com got to know the Australian a little better after his first-round win.

How did you get started in tennis?
Through my brother. He started playing basketball and then I followed him with that. Then he had some tennis lessons and I had a couple of hits. And I was a bit better than I thought, so I ran with it from there.

Who were your favourite tennis players growing up?
Marat Safin. He was just entertaining, the way he hit the ball. He was so powerful. I just loved watching him play.

What are your ambitions in tennis?
To be No. 1 in the world. Win Grand Slams. Obviously win Davis Cup.

What are your hobbies off the court?
I like watching NBA games. I like sleeping even I though don't get enough of it. Playing basketball. Catching up with my mates.

Do you have a favourite NBA Team?
L.A. Clippers.

Favourite Playstation game?
NBA 2K14.

How much time do you spend on the Playstation?
Not as much as I would like to. When I was injured I spent too much time on there.

What are your strengths as a tennis player?
I'd like to think my serve, my forehand and my fighting abilities.

In your first Grand Slam, what's it like being in the locker room around all these players?
It's great. Luckily I also had experience in Brisbane being around quality players in the locker room. To win my first ever Grand Slam match before I turn 18 - I'm pretty happy with that. It's just a good experience to be with the guys and hit with the guys. It all helps for the future.

How is it being around the Australian Davis Cup team with Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter?
I haven't spent as much time with them yet. I will be going to France a little bit later. They're really nice guys and are very encouraging.

Favourite Film: Superbad

Favourite Ice Cream Flavour: Cookies & Cream

Celebrity Crush: Elizabeth Hurley or Ciara.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... nakis.aspx

[Jacuszyn]

AO - konferencja po meczu 1 rundy:

Q. Pretty excited with the win?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Very excited. Had a fair few of my close mates all around. I was trying to pick them out. When I kind of high fived my mates everyone else had their hand out, so I went around with it. It was good fun.



Q. Good to have both you and Nick through.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: It's good for Australian tennis. Unfortunately Lleyton and Bernie obviously didn't get up. But, I mean, Matty is still in. James I felt put in a good effort against Federer.

So I think Australian tennis is on the up. Yeah, I know, it's exciting stuff.



Q. How did you get through that match? You were cramping horribly the last set.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I don't actually know, because, I mean, I started to feel it really early, maybe 5 6 in the third set. I was like, Oh, this ain't going to end too well. I just tried to make returns.

I think he got a little tighter thinking what's down the other end. I was trying to hang in there and try to find the cheap points. I was shortening the points as much as I could, because when it was going for a while I wasn't having much success.

I broke him early in the fourth, which he should have won that game. Somehow I came up with it. Kind of just tried to keep my serve.



Q. You've had some kind of physical ailments, haven't you? Growth spurts, I presume. Can you take us through those, how they've affected your progress.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, well I probably I missed over a year the last three years. When I was 14, just turned 15, I think I got my first ATP point. The week after I got injured, and then I was out for about seven months with a stress fracture there.

Then I had a good full year after that. Then after Aussie Open this year, I actually found out I had a stress fracture the night before my no, the night before my final match in the juniors. I played with it during my quarterfinal and my semifinal, so that wasn't great news.

But I missed six months rehabbing.

The body is feeling great right now, even though I was cramping in the fourth. But, yeah, I feel good.



Q. What have you done in the last hour or so to recover?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I've eaten, I've had a shower, got some treatment, and had some ice. So pretty much everything I can do. Now get some good rest, and hopefully I don't pull up too bad tomorrow.



Q. Obviously have a remarkable match in prospect. How do you view playing a player of that quality, almost certainly on Rod Laver?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I think I've had a couple good experiences, qualifying in Brisbane playing Lleyton on that big center court there. I think it was all a good experience for me, just build up to play these moments.

I'm really happy I've played two of the greatest players to play the game. I'm playing in a couple days' time. I'm looking forward to the challenge. Yeah, I'll go out there to win.



Q. He said you practiced with him last week, Nadal.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I practiced with him at French Open a little bit. That was one of my first hits coming off my injury. The back didn't pull up too well after that.

I think two days will be a bit of a different story. It was on clay.

Yeah, I practiced with him. I had a funny interview with him with Babolat him the other day. The last question was, What if you both win, will you be nervous? Everyone kind of started laughing.

He said, Always nervous. I'm just looking forward to going out there and having a crack.



Q. How much did you learn about Grand Slam tennis and to push through the pain barrier to win these matches?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, the crowd was unreal today. It started off without many people because it was so hot. Lleyton's match finished and a few came over.

I was on Show Court 3. I'm trying to imagine what Rod Laver would be like. Yeah, it was really hard, I found, to keep concentration in a best out of five set match. If I can do that, I'll be pretty happy.



Q. That last game you won, one of those most emphatic games you played for the whole match?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I don't really know where that came from. I was kind of relaxed. I was a little bit nervous. I was like, Win this game and you're through.

I think he was a little more nervous than I was. I just kind of read his serves, kept the points short, and went free swinging. Kind of pulled off really nicely.



Q. Is there a healthy rivalry between you and Nick as well? It can only be to the benefit of both of you if you're both pushing each other.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, exactly. It's great that we both push each other. A lot of people talk about it as a rivalry. We just try to get the wins when we play. Try not to think too much what he's doing, what I'm doing, just play my game when it's there.



Q. Did you see him in the stands watching you?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Nick?



Q. Yeah.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: No, I didn't. I saw his brother. He's pretty hard to miss. No, I didn't see Nick. It was good that he was out there. I would have been out there, but it was so hot and I was trying to get prepared for my match.

No, I'm happy that he came out. It's good support.



Q. Did you feel nervous before you went out?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I was actually all right. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I just felt good. I just felt good out there. I started off the match serving pretty well. Getting the first set was a big bonus, even though I got chopped in the second.

Getting the first set was big bonus knowing that I'm there. I couldn't make a return. If I just made some returns I'd feel good, and that's what happened.



Q. Even though you're still growing up, who is your favorite player? Was Nadal your favorite or Federer?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: None of them were really my favorite. Obviously you respect them because they're amazing players. But probably Safin was my favorite, just to watch. He was entertaining. Yeah, probably him.

But I try not to like idolize people too much. I just like to take little bits of everyone and apply it into my game.



Q. How exciting is it to be there and answer questions?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, it's pretty cool. My first time. Thank you for asking questions, yeah (smiling).



Q. One day you'll be fed up with this.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I'm waiting for that day. I need to get a bit better first.

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/inter ... 50130.html

[Advantage]

[Advantage]

[Jacuszyn]

AO - konferencja po meczu 2 rundy:

Spoiler:

Q. How was your morning this morning and afternoon before the match started? How did you prepare and feel?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Uhm, I felt all right. I was just trying to drink a lot of salt so I didn't cramp. I was expecting to play in a lot of heat.

The roof shut. I felt really good physically. I just tried to get a lot of sleep and just feel fresh. Had a really cold shower to try to get me going, yeah.



Q. Nerves?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Nervous? Uhm, a little bit, but I felt actually pretty settled early on in the match. I thought he played really well early. I mean, if you don't get it deep to him, he just runs you around the court.

There's that balance of trying to get it to deep. And then if you hit it too short, he's moving you around. Then you go for too much and that creates errors. That's why he's so good.



Q. What was it like in the first set?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I just got to try to be more aggressive on my return. I didn't feel like I returned great, but his serve is probably more difficult than I expected to return. He hits his spots well. I think he was serving something like 75% first serves. It moves a lot. Although it's not huge power, it's definitely awkward to return.

But I actually felt not bad in the rallies once I got the first half decent deep shot in. But, yeah, that was the tough part.



Q. Did you learn a lot tonight?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I did. Physically I think is probably the biggest thing that needs to improve. That's pretty much the thing I see. Just physically he's a beast. I've obviously got a ways to go to get that strong and fit.



Q. That might be a good thing to say you're only 17 and you're only going to get bigger and stronger.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I guess that's a good positive I can take out of it. Obviously, backhand and forehand, there's no real weakness there. And on his serve. When he comes into the net, he usually hits such a good approach that he's got a sitter volley.

So he doesn't really miss many volleys either. He just does everything well. I was just trying to be aggressive and see where I could kind of create errors and hit winners.



Q. He said that if you continue to improve all parts of your game, you have what it takes to become one of the great players. That must be nice hearing that from the world No. 1.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, that's obviously nice. He's a legend of the game. For him to say that is a real big plus for me. I know I need to keep working. I have a lot of development to do. It's only just the beginning.



Q. With a packed Rod Laver Arena, did you have to change your temperament and be careful with the emotions?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I tried to keep my swear words to a minimum (laughter). On the outside courts, obviously I haven't been on TV very much, but I can kind of let it out a little bit without any penalty.

I'm starting to get into the better tournaments, so I've got to kind of trim it down a little bit. I think it gets me going as well. When I get fired up, I think it's part of my game.



Q. Anyone giving you any advice beforehand besides your personal team regarding taking Rafa on?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I got a lot of advice. Tried to get as much as I could from people that have either played him or watched him a lot. Some told me that I got to be aggressive no matter what, otherwise I have no chance. Others told me to play within myself.

It was just up to me to choose what works.



Q. You played Lleyton Hewitt, Rafael Nadal within a couple weeks of each other. What an amazing experience.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: No, it's been great. I probably couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. Main thing is I'm healthy. That's a huge thing, because last year, I mean, I had some good results, but I also missed too much time. Happy I'm healthy.

And to play all these players, it's just great experiences for me in the long run.



Q. Do you have a particular idol that you look up to on tour, someone in the Australian camp?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, obviously Lleyton of all Australian tennis players, I think. If he's not, then I think you got a bit of an issue because he's done so much for the sport in Australia.

Obviously Rafa, Federer, all those guys are idols. But the one I enjoyed watching the most was Safin.



Q. Both you and Nick have been in the spotlight the last couple days. How have you found it?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, it's good. Obviously we've got a little bit of expectation to try to live up to. I thought we did a good job of that, getting through in our first round. Hopefully he can get through tonight. See how he goes. He's got a tough player as well in Paire.

No, it's been good. As well as the Greek community. Obviously all the Aussies, too. It's good we can share that together and push each other through.



Q. Some may say that Ash Barty taking on Serena Williams and yourself Nadal, it could be detrimental to your development to a certain degree. You wouldn't think that way?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Definitely not. I don't know why people would really say that. The thing you have to do is go out there confident because if you're in your shell, they're just going to tear you apart.

I tried to do what I do well, try to be aggressive. All these experiences show the level you need to get to.



Q. What are your plans for the year? Where are you going to go and play?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I'm done with juniors for now. I've got another year, but I kind of want to play with the big guys now, as I did with this tournament. I was grateful to get the opportunity.

But, yeah, I've got doubles and mixed here, so I'll enjoy the Australian Open while it lasts. Only happens once a year. Then I'll go to Davis Cup with the team in France. I'll enjoy that.

Then I think I've got a wild card into an ATP event in Europe. I'll just see where that takes me.



Q. Which one is that?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I think Marseille, 250, yeah.



Q. Are you more comfortable now answering questions in here?
THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I've felt always comfortable. I feel pretty good. I mean, I would have felt better if I won. But I feel fine, yeah.

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/inter ... 64231.html

[Advantage]

[Rroggerr]

2. runda Australian Open 2014.

[1] Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 62 64 62

Rafa o Thanasim:

"He will have the chance to be a great player," said Nadal, after hitting 39 winners and breaking serve five times. "That's my feeling. He has everything to do it. He played two junior finals at Grand Slams last year, so he has a great future. He has the right level to try to be on the tour very soon. So just keep working and that will happen."

Thanasi po meczu:

“Physically I think is probably the biggest thing that needs to improve. That's pretty much the thing I see. Just physically he's a beast. I've obviously got a ways to go to get that strong and fit.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... aonic.aspx

[DUN I LOVE]

Trochę popadłem w konsternację, nie widząc Thanasiego na listach zgłoszeń do Burnie i West Lakes. Odpuścił czy poprosi o WC?

[Mario]

Z rankingiem 570 raczej ciężko byłoby o jego obecność na listach...

[DUN I LOVE]

Z rankingiem 570 raczej ciężko byłoby o jego obecność na listach...

Racja. Cały czas miałem świadomość, że patrzę na listy challengerowe.

[Mario]

Chociaż na mtf-ie piszą, że wybiera się do Francji w tym czasie. Może szykuje się jakieś WC do kwali w Montpellier.

[DUN I LOVE]

Chociaż na mtf-ie piszą, że wybiera się do Francji w tym czasie. Może szykuje się jakieś WC do kwali w Montpellier.

Chyba docenia Twoją sympatię i nie chce, żebyś się rozdrabniał na kilka tematów turniejowych w jednym tygodniu.

[Mario]

Już bym się poświęcił, a patrząc na listy tych turniejów w Australii byłyby szanse na tytuł (może nawet dwa, jakby dał radę fizycznie).

[DUN I LOVE]

Inna sprawa, że tutaj trzeba wygrać dużo mniej, żeby dostać więcej. Do tego dużo większe doświadczenie. Nawet, gdyby umoczył CH na Antypodach, to i tak za bardzo by się nie rozwinął, a tak nie dość, że zagra z lepszymi zawodnikami, to jeszcze ma sporo do zdobycia w kwestii punktacji.

Zresztą, Thanasi nie traci chyba czasu z transferem na coraz wyższy poziom (patrzcie jak mało grał w ITF, coraz mniej zamierza grać w CH) i to mi się w sumie w nim podoba.