Kokkinakis beats Rinderknech 6-7 7-6 6-3 to win his 1st ATP 250 title at his home, Adelaide. Incredible new year run for him: he's 8-1 on fast paced Australian Hard Courts that suit his game. A threat to Rafa in round 2 of the AusOpen.
He was talking soon after an extraordinary, nerve-wracking semi-final triumph in which he squandered six match points and needed to save two of his own before downing former US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (12-10).
Asked where this ranked in his stop-start career, the man who once tamed Roger Federer in Miami, pondered: "Right up there, I think.
"To do it in Adelaide as well, just after kind of the last few years I've had, yeah, I mean, it's probably number one.
"I couldn't ask for anything more. To find myself in this position, beating the players I have, like a former grand slam champ, yeah, I'm stoked.
"Beating quality players last week and this week. Proud of my consistency. Proud of my mental effort."
It has indeed been a great start to the year for a player who's struggled with injuries to his shoulder, chest, groin, knee and elbow have interrupted what had promised to be a dazzling career.
Congratulations Thanasi Kokkinakis
