Thanasi Kokkinakis

[Damian]

Cilic and Kokkinakis earn wins

Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis also advanced, moving past second seed John Isner 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in two hours and 45 minutes. It is the biggest win by ATP Ranking that the wild card has secured since 2018, when he defeated then-World No. 1 Roger Federer in the second round in Miami.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/khachan ... -wednesday

[Bombardiero]

[DUN I LOVE]

2 półfinały ATP b2b, 6-1 w meczach, rewelacyjny początek sezonu.

Teraz trzeba czekać, żeby to się mocniej na ranking przełożyło.

[Bombardiero]

Jeśli utrzyma formę, to z pewnością się przełoży. Pozostaje trzymać kciuki.

[Damian]

[Damian]

The Croatian enjoyed a run to the last four at the Adelaide International 1 last week and will next face Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis as he aims to go one step further at the ATP 250 event. The former World No. 3 has now won four of his five matches in 2022.

Kokkinakis rallied from a set down to claw past countryman Aleksandar Vukic 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 16 minutes. Kokkinakis also reached the last four in Adelaide last week.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/cilic-a ... 2-thursday

[Bombardiero]

[Bombardiero]

[Bombardiero]

[DUN I LOVE]

7-1 w tym roku.

Pierwszy finał od 4,5 roku.

[Bombardiero]

[Bombardiero]

To się nazywa radość.

[Damian]

THANASI EDGES CILIC IN A CLASSIC TO REACH ADELAIDE FINAL

Spoiler:

Thanasi Kokkinakis defeats Marin Cilic in a classic Adelaide International semifinal to reach a first ATP Tour final in almost five years.

Adelaide, South Australia, 15 January 2022 | Darren Parkin 15 107

Thanasi Kokkinakis defeats Marin Cilic to progress to the final of the 2022 Adelaide International; Getty Images
In an early contender for match of the season, Thanasi Kokkinakis has won his way into his first ATP final in almost five years.

The Australian survived a classic battle to defeat Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-2 3-6 7-6 (10).

Kokkinakis had to use seven match points to prevail in the third set tiebreak, as finally the sporting gods who have been so cruel to him smiled down from above.

“It’s been almost five years so I’ll try and enjoy it and soak it all in,” Kokkinakis said.

“I’ll try and mentally and physically prepare as best I can … I’ve just got to back myself.”

The Adelaide local was practically flawless in the opening set, taking control from the very first point of the match.

Kokkinakis grabbed a break in the opening game of the night, before consolidating comfortably to take an early 2-0 lead.

He fought off his only break point of the set, winning three points in a row with clean winners to hold serve, before breaking Cilic again in the seventh game to take an unassailable lead.

Kokkinakis held serve to love to claim the set 6-2 in 38 minutes against the former US Open champion.

The South Australian made just two unforced errors in the opening set, with Cilic racking up 13.

“I couldn’t play too much better than I did early,” the Australian said.

“He started to get on top after that and I just had to will myself through.”


Kokkinakis largely maintained his level in the second set but Cilic raised his significantly, with the three-time Grand Slam finalist getting into a strong serving rhythm.

Cilic won a remarkable 100 per cent of points on first serve during that second set and unsurprisingly he faced no break points after losing his serve twice in the opener.

As he increased the pressure, he eventually broke Kokkinakis in the eighth game before strongly serving it out to level the match.

With momentum running his way, he immediately broke Kokkinakis to start the third set.

The Australian had spent nearly double the amount of time on court compared to Cilic this year, and it appeared fatigue might be kicking in when he dropped four straight games and trailed 0-2 in the third set.

But Kokkinakis broke back at his next chance, to get things on serve once more.

At 3-3 Kokkinakis was on the brink again at 15-40 but found four consecutive big serves to hold.

From those break points to the tiebreak, Kokkinakis did not drop a single point on serve, He collected 12 in a row as he established a groove and racing to a 6-2 lead in the tiebreak.

But Cilic would not be denied, saving all four match points and setting one up for himself.

At 6-7 Kokkinakis produced a screeching forehand winner to stay in the contest.

Both players traded an additional six match points before Cilic found the net and Kokkinakis secured victory.

“At 6-2, I tightened up like nothing else” Kokkinakis said.

“I thought I could either go into my shell or I could decide not to die wondering.

“I hit some big serves and got through it on adrenaline, plus the crowd was amazing.”

He will now play world No.58 Arthur Rinderknech of France in a Saturday night final.

“I watched a bit of him in the ATP Cup. He’s got a great serve and he’s had a super week,” said Kokkinakis.

“I’ve just got be ready and make sure I back myself.”


TODAY’S RESULTS
Men’s singles, semifinal
[WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d [4] Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-2 3-6 7-6 (10).

COMING UP
Men’s singles, final
[WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Arthur Rinderknech (FRA)

https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2022/01/ ... aide-final

[Damian]

[Damian]

Resurgent Kokkinakis Taking Nothing For Granted In Adelaide

Spoiler:

Aussie into his second semi-final in as many weeks
At the start of the year, Thanasi Kokkinakis had only made one ATP Tour semi-final in his injury-riddled career. After advancing to the last four at the Adelaide International 2 on Thursday, the Australian has reached two semi-finals in as many weeks to begin 2022, a positive sign for the 25-year-old.

“Super stoked for the start of the year obviously. Spoke earlier, my goal is to try to stay healthy and give myself a chance. After having a deep run last week, I wasn't sure how I was going to pull up,” Kokkinakis said. “I was in two minds: Do I play this week or go to Melbourne and freshen up, get ready for [the] AO [Australian Open]?

“My thing was I didn't want to take these tour events for granted. I know how few and far between they were last year. Mentally I was cooked after last week, but if I can get physically to a point where I'm okay to start next week, hopefully with the home crowd and everything, I'll find it.”

The Australian is not regretting his decision. From 2019 through 2021, Kokkinakis earned just five tour-level wins. Now he has six in less than two weeks. He has a chance to continue his hot streak against former World No. 3 Marin Cilic on Friday.

Most importantly for a player who has dealt with various injuries and illnesses since breaking onto the circuit eight years ago, Kokkinakis is feeling well physically.

“Honestly considering, pretty good. Obviously I'm feeling a few things, but nothing serious. Just some niggles from playing. That's what happens when you play at a high level day in, day out. Nothing serious,” Kokkinakis said. “My sleep's horrendous. I have trouble with getting to sleep, especially after late matches. My adrenaline is pumping. That's a tough bit, trying to recover.

“It's weird. It kind of feels like I've played a Grand Slam because it's been two weeks in the same hotel, same venue. It is like I'm getting déjà vu every day. I'm not used to playing this many matches in two weeks, especially at this level.”

Kokkinakis
Photo Credit: Sarah Reed/Getty Images
The No. 145 player in the ATP Rankings knew he had a good opportunity on Thursday against countryman Aleksandar Vukic. That paired with the excitement of the Australian Open draw being released added pressure to the moment.

But after letting slip the first set in the tie-break, Kokkinakis gave himself a wakeup call — literally.

“I did slap myself in the face. I have a bit of a headache because I hit myself in the head with my racquet a few times. Probably harder than I should have. I reckon I'm feeling it, to be honest,” Kokkinakis said. “It's alright. It got me into it. I was able to refocus, play a bit sharper tennis. It's tough, it was a mindset shift.

“Yesterday I felt like I was playing with house money. If I lose to Isner serving like that, sometimes he can take at racquet out of your hands. If I get to Melbourne, I'm fine. I woke up this morning, and I felt a little bit of a different pressure.”

Kokkinakis will reach his second ATP Tour final (2017 Los Cabos) if he upsets Cilic. But the Australian, who is charging back towards the world’s Top 100, is keeping things in perspective. Pressing too hard for those accomplishments is not always the answer.

“It's going to take care of itself hopefully. I'm just trying to win the match ahead of me. That's all I can do,” Kokkinakis said. “That is how I try to bring myself back to it. I am like, ‘Would I try to play this point any different thinking about ranking or am I just going to try to win the point?’

“You have to set small goals for yourself, otherwise it can kind of cripple you. I think I was a victim of that a little bit last year. Through a lot of matches, I was like, ‘I need this win. I want to get back to the [top] hundred so bad. I need to get to these wins.’ I wasn't able to play to my level.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/kokkina ... 22-feature

[Damian]

Kokkinakis Saves 2 MPs In Cilic Thriller To Reach Adelaide Final

Spoiler:

Aussie to play Rinderknech for the trophy
Thanasi Kokkinakis' dream start to 2022 keeps getting better.

Despite letting slip a 6/2 advantage in the final-set tie-break late Friday evening, the Australian saved two match points to defeat former World No. 3 Marin Cilic 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(10) in a two-hour, 39-minute thriller for a place in the Adelaide International 2 final.

"You guys are sick! Honestly it was unbelievable. Unbelievable! From the moment I walked out here, before the match had even started, I felt a buzz," Kokkinakis said. "It was crazy, best atmosphere I've played in in some time, maybe the best ever."

Kokkinakis had only made one ATP Tour semi-final before the start of the season, but he has now made two in as many weeks in Adelaide. The wild card will play Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech for the trophy on Saturday.

The opportunity appeared lost when Kokkinakis got tight and let slip his big advantage in the final-set tie-break. But the Australian crushed a backhand up the line at 6/7 and hit an ace at 7/8 to get out of trouble before eventually converting his seventh match point against the Croatian.

"I played a great breaker up until 6/2 and then I tightened up like nothing else," Kokkinakis said. "He got a match point and I was like, 'I don't know, I can either go into my shell or I can die wondering' and I just tried to tee off on a backhand line, pulled it off, hit some big serves and I don't know, I was just playing on adrenaline. You guys got me through, honestly."

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/arth ... ew'>Arthur Rinderknech</a>
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Frenchman Rinderknech produced a dominant performance on serve and return against countryman Corentin Moutet to power into the final earlier in the day.

The World No. 58 dropped just three points on his first serve and won more than half of his return points to claim a convincing 6-1, 6-3 win in one hour and 16 minutes. Already sitting at a career-high ATP Ranking, the 6' 5" 26-year-old will compete in his first ATP Tour final.

"It was a tough match inside our heads. I'm sure everybody knows what a home-country duel match is about," Rinderknech said. "There was a little bit of tension but happy to get the win with a pretty short time on court.

"It's a great achievement. I'm really happy to be in the final. It's a new step again. I made the semi-finals in Kitzbuehel last summer. Now the final here for my first tournament of the year.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/adelaid ... semifinals

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Bombardiero]

[Nando]