Thanasis Kokkinakis, the South Australian tennis player, has expressed his love for his home town tournament, the Adelaide International Tennis.
He believes that playing in this tournament just one week before the Australian Open in 2024 is a no-brainer. Kokkinakis, who won his first ATP tour title in Adelaide in 2022, will be facing his friend Dusan Lajovic, who is ranked higher than him at world No.52.
Kokkinakis reflects on the overwhelming experience he had in January 2022, where he made it to the semifinals in both weeks of the back-to-back ATP tournaments in Adelaide. After being away from the game for nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he didn't know what to expect but ended up having his best week on tour. He recalls the emotional rollercoaster of a match against Marin Cilic in the semifinals and how he almost choked but managed to pull himself together. Despite the quick turnaround, which resulted in him exiting the Australian Open in round one, Kokkinakis wouldn't change a thing as winning in Adelaide was worth it.
He acknowledges the pressure that top players face, as they have little time to celebrate their victories before having to compete again. Winning a tournament is like climbing a mountain, and when you reach the top, you want time to savor the moment, but that luxury is not always available. Kokkinakis admires the top players who can handle this pressure and continue to perform at a high level.