Nick Kyrgios anticipated the upcoming second-round match between Stan Wawrinka and Thanasi Kokkinakis at the 2023 French Open, scheduled for Wednesday, May 31.
Wawrinka had a thrilling first-round encounter against Albert Ramos-Vinolas, eventually triumphing in a hard-fought five-set battle with a score of 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-7(2), 1-6, 6-4. Meanwhile, Kokkinakis smoothly sailed past the 20th seed, Dan Evans, securing victory in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, and securing his spot in the next round in Paris.
Taking to Twitter, Nick Kyrgios stoked the excitement for the impending match-up, emphasizing the history and rivalry between Wawrinka and himself.
The Australian’s comment alludes to their past confrontations and verbal exchanges, including Kyrgios’ controversial remark at the 2015 Canadian Open about Wawrinka’s then-girlfriend, Donna Vekic, allegedly being involved with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Kyrgios faced consequences for his inappropriate comment, receiving fines and a 28-day ban from playing after the tournament.
Notably, this match will mark the first on-court encounter between Wawrinka and Kokkinakis.
Beyond their individual rivalry, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios have formed a successful partnership in doubles tennis. The duo achieved their first Grand Slam doubles title at the 2022 Australian Open and emerged victorious at the Atlanta Open later that year.
However, Kyrgios has been sidelined for the entirety of the 2023 season due to a knee injury that required surgery. He has been focusing on rest and rehabilitation, eagerly awaiting his return to competitive play.
