They’ll be giving it their best, there’ll be no tanking and they’ll have a laugh – but just don’t expect Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios to deliver a reprise of their dazzling Australian Open doubles triumph.
That was the message, delivered with a big chuckle, by Kokkinakis as he looked forward to another Melbourne Park adventure which he hopes will feature a singles bid that doesn’t end early like last year amid a “crazy zoo” atmosphere.
Kokkinakis’s disappointment at being outlasted 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-3 by the “rock-like” Roberto Bautista Agut in Friday’s semi-final of his home Adelaide International was tinged with some satisfaction that his game is in decent order.
But asked for his thoughts on a possible successful defence of his doubles crown with Kyrgios, he laughed: “No, I don’t think we will, to be honest.
“We’ll play, but if I told you I think we’re going to defend the title, I’d be lying.
The pair will be out for more fun, though, with the ‘Special Ks’ double act that wowed the Melbourne crowds last year still set to be a highlight.
“That’s why we play. We only thought about winning it last year, to be honest, pretty much in the quarters onwards when we were both out of singles,” said Kokkinakis.
“We’re going to try and do as well as we can in singles; doubles is a bonus. Hopefully, our bodies hold up.
“We’re not going to tank. If we get out there, we’re going to play and try and do as well as we can, but, yeah, I’m not chalking in a back-to-back just yet!”
Singles, Kokkinakis reckoned, was now his absolute priority, even if he wouldn’t be heading for Melbourne with the same sort of buzz as last year after he’d won his maiden ATP title in his hometown.
Still, he may be better placed this time as his earlier exit and a Tuesday start in Melbourne – “Thank f*** I’m not on Monday!” he laughed – will give him more time to prepare properly for the slower courts and an attractive-looking duel with the cavalier Italian veteran Fabio Fognini.
“Yeah, it’s going to be fun, going to be a crazy atmosphere. Last year on the intimate court three (losing in straight sets to Yannick Hanfmann) it was something I can’t even describe; that was the biggest zoo I’ve ever felt.
“Hopefully it’s a little more toned down. I don’t know if it will be. I’ll try and play on a different court, maybe a little bit bigger one where it feels like I don’t have a fan up my ass pretty much for the whole match.”
Source: AAP
