Thanasi Kokkinakis will be looking ahead to the Australian Open with some fire in his belly determined to put things right after a pretty abject 2024.
Kokkinakis helped Australia reach the semi-final of the Davis Cup before they ran into a rampant Italy outfit and succumbed to an exit.
The 28-year-old didn’t have a particularly strong 2024 when it came to the Grand Slams, failing to reach the second week at any of the events.
Kokkinakis is a popular player on the tour and there is enough to suggest that he can kick on in the coming years as he desperately bids to have a breakout campaign.
He’s been interviewed on his career to date and Kokkinakis has been picking his toughest-ever opponents.
Thanasi Kokkinakis picks his toughest opponents
It might come as a bit of a surprise but Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer aren’t the names mentioned when the Australian picks his strongest opponent ever.
Instead, he’s chosen Djokovic and Alcaraz and he’s also picked out the toughest loss he’s had during his career to date.
He said on Backseat Banter: “I would go with my toughest loss, the one which hurt the most is Murray at the Australian Open. Playing six hours to lose, what a waste of time that was for everyone bar him!
“The toughest opponent I have played is between two. It’s Novak and Wimbledon or Carlos.
“I thought when Alcaraz was at his best, I was impressed. He is my favourite player to watch as well, he’s dominating.”
Kokkinakis was also asked if there was one player that he’d love to be on his team on the court – and that’s where Federer got a mention.
He continued: “I would love to play with Fed. He’s the man. He is sick, he’d bring a good crowd.”
Kokkinakis has to ditch Mr Nice Guy image and kick on
At 28 there is still some time on the side of Kokkinakis but his record at the Grand Slam events is pretty drab to say the least.
He’s ever reached the fourth round of any Grand Slam event and for a player with his talent that just simply won’t do.
Kokkinakis is a great character and everything he does is typically done with a smile on his face.
However, he might need to ditch some of the nice guy stuff to try and enjoy a breakthrough year on the ATP tour.
Nick Kyrgios has praised Kokkinakis in the past and it’s really about time that the Australian started realising the potential he showed earlier in hs career.
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