Thanasi Kokkinakis has come out on the wrong side of the result in an Australian Open five set thriller against a British player once again.
Kokkinakis played Andy Murray at the 2023 Australian Open, in a five hour 45 minute match that finished after 4am in Melbourne.
While this match with Draper was slightly shorter at 4 hours and 36 minutes, similarly to the Murray match Kokkinakis led before being beaten in a final set.
There had been some concerns about whether this match would even go ahead, after Kokkinakis withdrew from Adelaide due to a shoulder injury.
Barry Cowan questions Thanasi Kokkinakis’ medical timeout in third set of Australian Open match
Kokkinakis has had many struggles with injury throughout his career, undergoing surgery on his right shoulder nearly 10 years ago.
This shoulder has recently been causing issues for Kokkinakis once again, with the world number 71 requiring treatment throughout his Australian Open match with Draper.
After losing the second set, Kokkinakis played three more games until taking his only allowed medical timeout that can last upto three minutes.
However, when speaking on Eurosport commentary former British tennis player Barry Cowan questioned whether Kokkinakis should have taken this timeout after the second set rather than midway through the third.
“This is a good example and it’s not a criticism of Kokkinakis, because every player does it,” said Cowan. “But after the third game, should you then be able to have an injury time out for six minutes? Was it any worse after the third game than it was at the end of the second set?”
Medical timeouts have been a hot topic of conversation already in the 2025 season, with Iga Swiatek being criticised at the United Cup for taking one after being broken in the deciding set by opponent Katie Boulter.
What did Jack Draper have to say about Thanasi Kokkinakis’ injury?
While Cowan questioned the timing of the medical intervention, Draper appeared sympathetic towards his opponent when speaking in the on-court interview after the match.
“It’s difficult. Credit to him. I think he was hurting quite a lot,” said Draper. “He pulled out last week and had a really long match first match. He came out here and gave it his all until the end. Obviously he was hurting but credit to him. It was a great fight today.”
Draper has had fitness concerns of his own recently after withdrawing from the United Cup with a hip problem, but appears to be feeling better after playing back-to-back five set matches at the Australian Open.
Despite exiting the singles draw in Melbourne, Kokkinakis is still playing Australian Open doubles with Nick Kyrgios, with their first round taking place less than 24 hours away against compatriots Aleksandar Vukic and James Duckworth.
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