South Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis won a match at Wimbledon for the first time in his seven attempts, defeating Polish world No.91 Kamil Majchrzak 7-6(5) 6-2 7-5 in just under two-and-a-half hours on the opening day.
Since 2015 when Kokkinakis first took part in the All England Club this is his seventh career Grand Slam singles match win – and just his third from the past seven injury-interrupted years, according to the Wide World of Sports.
The World No.79 star takes on three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic, who prevailed in four sets today against Korean Soonwoo Kwon.
Nick Kyrgios will go up against British wildcard Paul Jubb at Wimbledon on Tuesday night (AEST) after he withdrew from last week’s Mallorca Open because of an abdominal injury.
Even though he is expected to establish his dominance easily against his first round opponent but Kyrgios is drawing on his own experiences to ward off any complacency as he hunts his maiden Grand Slam singles title.
“I feel like I can put myself in his shoes very well,” Kyrgios told 9News.
“I was once that kid that got a wildcard at the Australian Open. Felt really good just to be around, soak it all in, the media, the fans, everything, the hype. I know how he’s going to be feeling. He’s going to go out there and he’s going to just play freely, nothing to lose.
“Being in that position, I loved it. I was an underdog every time I walked out there. I had no pressure. So I know it’s going to be a dangerous match. It’s not always easy to be the favourite, just sweep aside someone. Never. I’ve had matches like that and it hasn’t gone well.”
Greece’s top tennis stars are also vying for a title.
World No.6 Stefanos Tsitsipas hopes to break his negative streak of Wimbledon first-round exits at two after winning the title in Mallorca. Tsitsipas will face Alexander Ritschard, who might be a slightly more tricky opponent but does not seem to have enough control over his game. Should the Greek win he would be set against Rafael Nadal, who he considers a great hurdle.
“I have a lot of respect for what he did at the French Open, playing with that foot. It was a broken foot in a way. It kind of makes him feel like he’s immortal with the things he’s able to pull off,” Tsitsipas told Latest Tennis News.
“We’re used to seeing Rafa not being able to play and win multiple Grand Slams or tournaments. That’s where I think the opponents need to be more careful. When he says he can’t play and has foot problems, that’s where I feel he’s the most threatening in terms of his performance. It’s actually reverse psychology in a way.”
Maria Sakkari on the other hand said that her life has changed forever after breaking into the world’s top five players and now she feels “ready to back it up with a slam”, iNews reported.
However, Wimbledon is the only slam where she has failed to make it past the third round and before this year had only won 16 matches on the surface.
“If you’re not from the UK, you don’t grow up playing on the grass,” she said, adding that playing on grass isn’t her forte but always gives it her all.
“My first tournament on the grass was when I was 20 years old – but I consider myself a very good mover so that’s something that helps a lot when you start playing on the grass. I don’t see why I can’t do well.”