Home town favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis has come through a tough examination before wrapping up a day of success for Australian players at the Adelaide International.
Kokkinakis, winner of the event back in 2022, reckoned he was glad to be back on his favourite court at Memorial Drive as he negotiated a tricky first round date with Japanese left-hander Yoshihito Nishioka.
His 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory, completed just before midnight on Monday, sealed a fine day for home players with Chris O’Connell earlier having been left breathing easier after edging out Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech to avert a rankings disaster.
Kokkinakis, who’d beaten Rinderknech in that 2022 final, had an uneven contest, playing lights-out tennis in the first set but then suffering a lapse of concentration in the second when he had seemed in total control.
He then regrouped in the decider, breaking twice for a 5-1 lead before another fightback from the Japanese, who also saved three match points at 5-3 down before Kokkinakis finally prevailed after two hours 10 minutes, satisfied with his 41 winners and 15 aces.
“It’s definitely my favourite court,” Adelaide’s world No.77 told the crowd afterwards.
After failing to take advantage of early break-point chances in the second set, Kokkinakis reflected with a smile: “I never like when it’s going too well, because I’m just kind of waiting for something bad to happen – and it kind of did.
“It could have been maybe a straight-sets match — but that’s tennis — and he fought and played some good tennis. Then you guys lifted me in that third set.”
With AAP
