Thanasi Kokkinakis

[DUN I LOVE]

148. teraz Kokk. Jeżeli Fiasco się odda, będzie o kolejnych 19 pozycji wyżej.

Nie to jednak jest ważne. Pomnikowy sukces i nawet jeżeli ta kariera mu nie wyjdzie, to będzie miał co wpisać w tenisowe CV.

[Barty]

[Barty]

Ale przez nos gada, trudno na początku zrozumieć, o co mu chodzi.

[Lleyton]

Kokkinakis Has His Health; Now Time To Face Federer

Spoiler:

Aussie will meet No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings for the first time

Age is just a number, right? Especially these days, players in their 30s play as if they're in their 20s, and players in their 20s bounce back as if they're in their late teens.

Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis completely agrees. The 21-year-old doesn't feel like he's only two years removed from his teenaged years. Kokkinakis, who's spent the past two seasons battling injuries, feels closer to the age of his second-round opponent, Roger Federer.

“I feel like a bit of a veteran in some ways. I'm 21, but I feel a lot older. I don't know if that's a good thing, probably a bad thing. I definitely feel like I'm in my late 30s, at least,” Kokkinakis told ATPWorldTour.com.

Watch: Kokkinakis Happy To Be Feeling Good Again In Miami

Two years of injuries and rehab, and then more injuries and more rehab, will do that to even the most upbeat and positive of players, such as Kokkinakis.

The 6'5” Aussie reached the fourth round of the 2015 BNP Paribas Open (l. to Tomic) and finished the season at No. 80 in the year-end ATP Rankings, one of four teenagers – Borna Coric, Hyeon Chung and Alexander Zverev – in the Top 100. Kokkinakis was 19 and headed to the Top 50, maybe the Top 20, before his 21st birthday.

But then just about every injury a tennis player can get, Kokkinakis got. Shoulder surgery in December 2015 kept him out for nine months, and when he was to make his ATP World Tour return at the 2016 Winston-Salem Open, a pectoralis strain placed him on the withdrawal list for Winston-Salem and the US Open.

In 2017, another strain, this one in his abs, forced him to miss more than four months. But thankfully for Kokkinakis, fist pumps and wide smiles followed later in the year.

At The Queen's Club in London, he celebrated his first Top 10 win against No. 6 Milos Raonic. One month later, in Los Cabos, Kokkinakis checked off a list of first accomplishments: his first ATP World Tour quarter-final, semi-final and final (d. Fritz, Berdych and l. to Querrey).

Thanasi
Kokkinakis' win against Raonic last year at The Queen's Club was his first Top 10 win. (Photo: Getty Images)

But more strains – groin, pectoralis – and a rolled ankle derailed him to finish 2017 and start 2018.

This week in Miami, however, he's feeling good, again. Kokkinakis, in only his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event since 2015 Cincinnati, dropped only three games against France's Calvin Hemery to set a second-round showdown with Federer, a three-time champion in South Florida.

“I've had a lot of ongoing things but this is the best my body has felt [since 2015] – touch wood – so I'm just going to see how it goes and stay positive and not get too worked up and keep working hard and see where I go,” he said. “It feels good to be back and the big one for me is just staying healthy and staying positive.

“I think I'm a lot better player than I was in 2015; for me, it's just showing that and staying on the court.”

Although Kokkinakis has never faced Federer, the two have spent weeks training together. Federer invited the Aussie to train with him in Dubai on two occasions – for a few weeks during the 2014 off-season and for a couple weeks during the European clay-court swing last year.

You May Also Like: The Sweetest Feeling - Kokkinakis Claims Biggest Win

“ everything about him so if I lose it's completely on me,” Kokkinakis said in between laughs. “Yeah, I'm sure he doesn't show everything on the practice court. But I've seen what I can and I'm going to go out there and have a crack.”

Despite heavy odds against him, Kokkinakis will take the court against Federer, No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings and the defending champion in Miami, with the same attitude he had throughout qualifying and during his first-rounder in South Florida: Play freely and enjoy his health, and his time, on court.

“One of the guys asked me, 'What's my goal in the match?' I don't think it changes from match to match. You go there to win. You're not going to go there, thinking, 'I hope I get a few games.' That's just not the attitude you need,” Kokkinakis said.

“I think if I serve well and play well, I can have a good crack, but obviously playing Roger is tough. I think the majority of the crowd will be supporting him, which is not too much of a surprise. But it is what it is. If I play well, I think I can do some good things.”
More stories like this in:

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https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/ko ... 18-feature

[Damian]

Od kwalifikacji dzięki dzikiej karcie do pokonania Rogera Federera. Thanasi Kokkinakis: To nierealny tydzień

Spoiler:

- To dla mnie nierealny tydzień - powiedział Thanasi Kokkinakis, który po pokonaniu Rogera Federera awansował do III rundy Miami Open, choć - aby zagrać w turnieju - musiał dostać dziką kartę do eliminacji.

Thanasi Kokkinakis wygrał sobotni mecz II rundy turnieju ATP w Miami z Rogerem Federerem 3:6, 6:3, 7:6(4). - Federer jest największym wzorem do naśladowania w naszym sporcie. Kilka razy z nim trenowałem i to, czego się nauczyłem, wprowadziłem do swojej gry - mówił na konferencji prasowej.
Pokonanie aktualnie liderującego w rankingu ATP Federera to dla Australijczyka największe zwycięstwo w karierze. Został także 14. reprezentantem swojego kraju, który wygrał mecz z tenisistą zajmującym pierwsze miejsce w klasyfikacji singlistów. - Nie wywierałem na siebie presji. Po prostu wiedziałem, że muszę grać ofensywnie i agresywnie. Byłem w stanie grać na swoich warunkach, a kiedy to robię, uważam, że niewielu rywali jest w stanie dotrzymać mi kroku - ocenił.

Kokkinakis, obecnie 175. gracz świata, stał się piątym w historii najniżej klasyfikowanym tenisistą, który pokonał lidera rankingu. Pod tym względem najlepszy jest Daniel Nestor, który gdy w meczu Pucharu Davisa 1992 wygrał z ówczesną światową "jedynką" Stefanem Edbergiem, był 238. singlistą globu.

Pięciu najniżej notowanych tenisistów, którzy wygrali mecz z liderem rankingu ATP:
Rok Tenisista (ranking) Turniej Etap Ówczesny lider rankingu Wynik
1992 Daniel Nestor (ATP 238) Puchar Davisa I runda Stefan Edberg 4:6, 6:3, 1:6, 6:3, 6:4
1994 Karim Alami (ATP 205) Ad-Dauha I runda Pete Sampras 3:6, 6:2, 6:4
1992 Andriej Olhowski (ATP 192) Wimbledon III runda Jim Courier 6:4, 4:6, 6:4, 6:4
2003 Francisco Clavet (ATP 178) Miami II runda Lleyton Hewitt 6:4, 6:4
2018 Thanasi Kokkinakis (ATP 175) Miami II runda Roger Federer 3:6, 6:3, 7:6(4)

- Federer różni się od innych tenisistów, więc potrzebowałem trochę czasu, aby się przystosować. Dużo dał mi pierwszy gem drugiego seta, kiedy obroniłem serwis, choć przegrywałem 15-40. W pewnym momencie przestałem też popełniać tak wiele prostych błędów, zacząłem wytrzymywać wymiany i dyktować warunki moim forhendem - analizował 21-latek z Adelajdy.

Kokkinakis jest już w 1/16 finału Miami Open, choć do głównej drabinki turnieju przebijał się przez kwalifikacje. Co więcej, aby zagrać w eliminacjach, musiał otrzymać dziką kartę od organizatorów. - To dla mnie nierealny tydzień - powiedział Australijczyk, który w III rundzie zmierzy się z Fernando Verdasco.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/74513 ... nasi-kokki

[Mario]

[DUN I LOVE]

Od dawna powtarzano, że młodzi adepci nie powinni brać przykładu z Rafy.

[Emu]

Jak wiadomo każdy wyciskający na klatę kończy z rozwalonym barkiem.

[DUN I LOVE]

Zależy, czy robisz to z głową, czy dźwigasz na pałę.

[arti]

[Rroggerr]

Z kontuzją zmaga się również inny Australijczyk, Thanasi Kokkinakis, który doznał poważnego urazu, wpadając na jedną z reklam ustawionych na korcie w Monte Carlo podczas meczu z Karenem Chaczanowem. Obecnie Kokkinakis musi poruszać się o kulach.

[Robertinho]

Chłop ma ewidentnie farta, że nie udusił się pępowiną albo coś w tym stylu, bo przyciąga nieszczęścia niczym piorunochron.

[Mario]

Ten upadek też z serii tych, po których normalny człowiek miałby co najwyżej zdartą skórę.

[DUN I LOVE]

Coś zapowiadało taki stan rzeczy? On chyba normalnie dograł tamto spotkanie?

[Mario]

Z tego co mi wiadomo, to tak. Inna sprawa, że często, gdy jesteś rozgrzany, to wszystko jest ok, a ból zaczyna się pojawiać dopiero wtedy, jak organizm ostygnie.

[Sowa]

Ajj... To pewnie coś zerwał, bo wtedy często zupełnie nie boli. A potem dramat.

[Damian]

Knee scare had Kokkinakis ready to quit

Spoiler:

Thanasi Kokkinakis admits he was ready to quit tennis just two weeks after beating Roger Federer, fearing a freak knee injury had left him with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

The 22-year-old South Australian, who's battled a catalogue of injuries over the last three years, looked set for another long lay-off after crashing into a sponsors sign during at match at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

It was initially thought the former world No. 69 had badly bruised his kneecap but a doctor insisted he go for scans after refusing to rule out any significant damage.

However, the results came back negative and Kokkinakis said he wouldn't have been able to mentally cope with the prospect of another long stint on the sidelines.

"Every time I freak out a little bit and when they tested me for an ACL ... well I thought that was me done," Kokkinakis said at the Surbiton Trophy Challenger Tour event in London.
"They were fearing the worst, and so was I to be honest given my injury history, because it swelled up so much.

"I would have pulled the pin for sure. For a couple of years at least. I would have probably only come back if I was bored.

"But thankfully it came back all clear and I just need to keep fit now.

"I know what my top level is but I also know what my bottom level is and I need to make sure I am closer to the top."

Kokkinakis, who nine weeks ago became only the second man to lower Federer's colours this year, demonstrated his inconsistent nature in Surbiton on Tuesday by losing to Indian world No. 93 Yuki Bhambri.

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The world No. 148 went down 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in a dispiriting display in southwest London.

He'll now travel to The Netherlands to try and qualify for the Libema Open grass court event ahead of Queens Club and Wimbledon – which will also require him to battle through qualifiers.

The affable Kokkinakis – one of the most popular players on the ATP tour – admits he needs his brittle body to stand up to the rigours of elite tennis now more than ever if he's to ever fulfil his rich potential.

"It's tough, I have been struggling to find my motivation as I've been in a cycle of rehab for so long," he said.

"When I am out there playing, sometimes I'm into it and sometimes I am not where I need to be.

"When I beat Federer that was when I had a complete run at it. I played four successive tournaments for the first time in a long, long time.

"Hard and clay are my best surface but I beat [Milos] Raonic at Queens last year so I can do well on grass too."

Jordan Thompson, a finalist at this event last year, also succumbed to an Indian player, going down in three sets to world No. 123 Ramkumar Ramanathan.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/ ... 4zjpe.html

[Lleyton]

[Damian]

Challenger QA: Kokkinakis Back In Winners' Circle In Aptos

Spoiler:

Thanasi Kokkinakis sits down with broadcaster Mike Cation after claiming his first ATP Challenger Tour title in three years in Aptos
What a road it's been for Thanasi Kokkinakis. After three years of fighting through injuries and battling to stay healthy, all the hard work is finally paying off.

On Sunday, the 22-year-old Aussie returned to the winners' circle on the ATP Challenger Tour, claiming his first singles title since 2015 at the Nordic Naturals Challenger in Aptos, California. Kokkinakis capped a strong week which saw him drop just one set and rout Lloyd Harris 6-2, 6-3 in the final. Harris entered the match in strong form, having won 18 sets in a row, but was outplayed from the first ball.

Kokkinakis, who ascended to a career-high No. 69 in the ATP Rankings in 2015, is fighting to return to the Top 100 after a catalogue of physical ailments hampered his progress over the years. He is up 69 spots to No. 199 with his victory in Aptos, continuing the momentum that started in March when he stunned Roger Federer at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

And the Adelaide native is flying on both singles and doubles courts this summer. One week after lifting the doubles trophy with Taylor Fritz at the ATP World Tour event in Los Cabos, he also added a title with Matt Reid in Aptos, teaming with his countryman for the first time.




Congrats Thanasi. The main question you will be asked is how is the body holding up? You've overcome many injuries and it's been a long week in Aptos.
It's pretty sore and I had a quick turnaround after reaching the doubles final last week at [the ATP World Tour event in] Los Cabos. But I needed some singles matches and I couldn't have asked for more this week. I'm a little sore, that's for sure, and I was nursing a little elbow thing but thankfully that has held up all week. My body has felt a lot worse, so that's the positive. I don't think I've ever played this many matches in a week.

Are you able to relish this with your game, after all the health issues and missing as much time as you did?
It means a lot. I obviously reached my career-high [ATP Ranking] in 2015, but I feel I'm a much better player now than I was back then. I've improved a lot of things and I haven't always had the opportunity to show it. I've shown that when I'm able to play a few in a row, I've had good results. One was in Miami against Federer and then falling in Monte-Carlo messed me up because I thought I was gaining good momentum. Fracturing my knee took me longer to come back than I thought. I played the grass without too much form, but I'm starting to get my legs under me. This is just my third Challenger this year, so I couldn't have asked for more.

The quarter-final win [over Prajnesh Gunneswaran] is the one I want to talk about. It was very cold and misty as well. You had a tough time hitting through the court and it was different from any other match this week. How did you mentally click in to get through it?
It was definitely a tough match and he's played some good tennis recently. Also, I can't remember ever playing in conditions that cold. I was trying to serve through my elbow issue and that didn't feel very good when it's cold. I just hung tight and stayed really focused with my composure. I kept fighting, because often in tournaments when you're not at your best level, you can scrap your way through and then find it in the later rounds. I know what I'm capable of, so I know I can match up with the best in the world.

You May Also Like: Kokkinakis Focusing On The Positives In Atlanta
I was talking with one of the other players, who was saying that if you're playing at your top level, you win this tournament nine out of 10 times. How do you consistently get to that level?
It's health, it's mindset and it's repetition. It sounds corny, but it is trusting the process. A lot of weeks you don't play your best tennis. I'm fighting and working hard to put in the time on the practice court. I really wanted to start playing a lot of doubles and I think that's helped me. I have a long way to go. In my singles, I can get to the net a lot more and take advantage of opportunities for me to finish. I'll try to not be put off my many volley misses and keep progressing. There is still so much to do with my game. I know what I'm capable of, but I just need to stay healthy and focused. Those two things.

You really looked the part this week, beating top seed Fabbiano and then Harris, who had won 18 straight sets entering the final. Now you're looking towards the US Open. How do you maintain the momentum in the short term?
I know Tennis Australia have a wild card and I don't know who they're going to give it to. I was told that I need to show that I can play matches and I couldn't have shown it in a better way than this week. If it's qualies, it is what it is. I need to get my ranking up so I don't have to be in this position. I want to be back in the Top 100 by the end of this year. I just got to keep playing and stay focused.

How do you find the right mixture of Challengers and ATP World Tour qualifying events, to get your ranking back up?
I think a mixture is good. Coming back, nothing can replace matches. You can play unbelievable in practice all you want and I've done that the past couple years. I'm playing guys in practice who are Top 20, Top 10 even, and I'm thinking what I'm doing wrong in matches to not play this well. A lot of it is confidence. I'm moving better in matches and you can do all the movement drills off court, but until you're out there reacting to balls and competing and giving effort in every point, you start to learn that. I'm starting to find that competitive edge again that I was missing.

Talk about what your team has provided you. Todd Langman obviously has been your longtime coach and you recently brought on Vasek Jursik to work with the physical side.
Well, Vasek has just added more routine to my performances. There's nothing groundbreaking to be honest. It's just the little things that I wasn't doing best. And it's been tough on him as well, because literally right when I started working with him, I fell in Monte-Carlo. I've been training a little at Mouratoglou Academy when I'm in Europe. They have great facilities for me to use and he's brought more structure and helped me with my flexibility and mobility. He's definitely more consistency in my warm-ups and cool-downs and focus. And with Todd, we fight all the time, but he's more like a brother than a coach. I love having him in my corner and he's the first coach I ever had. I don't think too many people can say that. We know we care about each other regardless, and that's the biggest thing.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/ap ... kokkinakis

[DUN I LOVE]

Bordeaux kilka lat wstecz i teraz Aptos - 2 tytuły CH. Chyba faktycznie powinien się przeprosić z tym poziomem rozgrywkowym.