Kokkinakis Triumphs in Tough Test at Adelaide International

Hometown hero Thanasi Kokkinakis fought through a challenging first-round match to cap off a successful day for Australian players at the Adelaide International. The 2022 champion, who has a special connection to Memorial Drive, returned to his favourite court and navigated a tricky encounter with Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.

Kokkinakis claimed a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory just before midnight on Monday, adding to the success of fellow Australian Chris O'Connell, who survived a scare against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech to avoid a potential rankings setback earlier in the day.

Despite a rocky second set, where Kokkinakis allowed Nishioka to bounce back after dominating the opener, the world No. 77 regained control in the decider. Breaking twice for a 5-1 lead, Kokkinakis held off a late fightback from Nishioka, who saved three match points at 5-3 down. After 2 hours and 10 minutes, Kokkinakis sealed the win, hitting 41 winners and serving up 15 aces.

"It's definitely my favourite court," said Kokkinakis to the crowd, clearly pleased to be back on home soil.

Reflecting on his performance, he joked, "I never like when it’s going too well, because I’m just kind of waiting for something bad to happen — and it kind of did." He added with a smile, "It could have been a straight-set match, but that’s tennis. He fought hard and played some good tennis, and then you guys lifted me in that third set."

A Touch of Greek Pride

One thing fans couldn't help but notice during Kokkinakis's match was his Spartan blue and white Greek shorts, a nod to his Greek heritage. The striking design was a perfect mix of style and patriotism, proudly showcasing his roots with the Greek flag colours. With the shorts catching the eye of many on social media, Kokkinakis showed his talent on the court and his love for his Greek background. It was a small but powerful gesture that brought his passionate home crowd an extra layer of pride. ❤️🇬🇷🇦🇺