thanasi kokkinakis

Biography

Overview
Thanasi Kokkinakis has made dramatic matches his trademark in a resurgent 2024, with five of his nine Grand Slam matches extending to five sets. Most notably he toppled No.11 Stefanos Tsitsipas in four sets at the 2024 US Open in the first round and saved four match points against higher-ranked Felix Auger-Aliassime at Wimbledon. A top-1oo return suggests that the Australian Open 2022 doubles champion (with Nick Kyrgios) may yet fulfil the thrilling promise he showed as a top junior before injuries derailed his career.

Off Court
One of three siblings, Kokkinakis followed brother Panayoti onto a tennis court at age seven. The young player also loved other sports – most notably basketball, which would have been his preferred choice had he not pursued pro tennis. Kokkinakis, whose parents are Trevor and Voula, enjoys PlayStation in his downtime. A popular figure on the ATP Tour, Kokkinakis has worked with coaches Todd Langham and Todd Ley for his entire career.

Career
Health challenges have been an undeniable adversary for the big-serving Aussie, with entire seasons decimated by injuries and illness. Yet the flashy competitor has a reputation for stepping up on the big stages – including at Miami in 2018 when, as a 175th-ranked wildcard, he stunned then-No.1 Roger Federer. Kokkinakis claimed a first ATP singles title in Adelaide in 2022 and teamed with compatriot and great mate Nick Kyrgios to win the Australian Open 2022 doubles titles. On the North American hardcourt swing this year, he qualified for the ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal, and upset No.34-ranked Gael Monfils in the first round before being edged out by No.6 Hubert Hurkacz in a tight third-set tiebreaker. He excelled for Australia at the Davis Cup group stage in Valencia, upsetting No.25 Frenchman Arthur Fils and No.67 Czech Jakub Mensik.

2024 Highlights
Quarterfinals: Los Cabos
R16: Washington
3R: Roland Garros
2R: Australian Open, Indian Wells, Montreal, US Open