For Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, their journey might have ended in round two, but they will forever be remembered.
Thanasi Kokkinakis was just starting in his first grand slam this week and wouldn’t have imagined he’d be serving against the World number one.
Keeping his nerves down, Kokkinakis showed promise, especially at the star as he began assertively with a strong service game.
He was soon fighting for points as he was on the receiving end of Nadal’s relentless rallies.
In the end, the 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 score didn’t mean a thing when the crowd cheered for Kokkinakis.
His doubles partner and Junior Grand Slam winner, Nick Kyrgios came very close to qualifying.
The 18-year-old was defying belief against France’s world number 27 Benoit Paire, taking two sets from the much more experienced player, keeping him desperate on his toes.
It all came undone in the third set, when Kyrgios was seen visibly suffering from cramps.
He was struggling to even walk let alone hit shots back over the net, where Paire capitalised and won the game in three sets, with the final score 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 6-2.
Read more in Saturday’s Neos Kosmos.