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Biofile Thanasi Kokkinakis Interview
3 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: 2024 Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open finalist will play Zizou Bergs today at noon for the title. ATP No. 106. Winner of one ATP singles titles and 2023 Australian Open doubles title. Member of Australian Davis Cup team. Career best ranking was 65 in Nov. 2023.
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 190
DOB: April 10, 1996 In: Adelaide, Australia
First Memory Of Tennis: Is wearing my basketball uniform and following my brother to a tennis lesson and picking up balls while he had a drink break. I was about seven.
Tennis Inspirations: I’ve got a few… Lleyton (Hewitt) was one of them. I guess my brother (Panayioti), he got me into it. I liked Baghdatis and Safin.
Last Book Read: Not for a while. It must’ve been the Agassi biography (Open).
First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: I met a few famous ones but the first one I was like Oh, wow… I was at Davis Cup as an orange boy at 14-15 and Lleyton was there for the team.
Current Car: Audi R8 (white).
Greatest Career Moment: Winning my hometown title in Adelaide 250 (2022). (Better than winning 2023 Australian Open doubles title?) Yep, 100 percent, no question [smiles].
Most Painful Moment: I’ve had a few. Shoulder surgery was a tough one. But mentally, probably losing the match against Murray two sets to love up and a break (AO). That was a tough one (that match lasted five hours and 45 minutes that ended after 4 AM, the third latest finish in the history at ATP Tour level and the longest match of Kokkinakis and Murray’s 18-year career and of the 2023 season.) But aside from that it’s all injury related.
Favorite Tournament: Aussie Open, hands down.
Funniest Players Encountered: There’s a few funny ones for different reasons. Nick’s funny because he’s a clown. Tiafoe is funny because he’s always laughing, always smiling. So he’s one of them.
Which Match Did You Feel At Your Best: I’d say during the Adelaide run. The finals (vs. Rinderknech in three sets) and semifinals (vs. Cilic, saved two match points). It felt like everything was happening pretty easy.
Funny Tennis Memory: I’ve had a few. Probably I was playing a junior event under 14s doubles. And my partner hit a smash on the forehand into my opponent’s nuts. That was probably one of the funniest.
Strangest Match: I remember my first time playing Madrid. It was in qualies. And I had like some super fan, my age, maybe a bit younger, and he jumped on my back as I was walking off the court. I didn’t realize it. Like some monkey on my back [smiles].
Favorite Artist: I don’t really have one. I like any sort of house and upbeat sort of music.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: I’m a big coffee guy. So I don’t mind coffee ice cream.
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: Basketball.
Three Favorite Athletes To Watch & Follow: Chris Paul is my favorite basketballer. I’d say Conor McGregor every time he steps inside the octagon. And who else… I loved watching Kobe.
People Qualities Most Admired: Honesty. Authenticity. And humor.
Adelaide · Australia · Grand Slam · Nick Kyrgios · Thanasi Kokkinakis
Scoop Malinowski · April 9, 2024 at 9:44 am
A very likeable genuine class Australian player. He has many fans around the world for good reason. Today he plays Matija Pecotic in 1R at Sarasota Open.
Scoop Malinowski · April 14, 2024 at 8:45 pm
Dear Readers, I’ve been asked to help coach an American player in Tallahassee this week, after going 5-2 helping this player in Sarasota Open. So please understand there will be very few posts this week as I focus on helping this player in Tally. Stay tuned…
Scoop Malinowski · April 16, 2024 at 11:49 am
Got the win yesterday here 46 63 60. Henry Searle won the biggest match of his career vs wolf 7676 on stadium night match. Searle is 18 yr old lefty from UK, won junior wimbledon last yr.