- Aussie crashed out of the second round in a five-set thriller
- He and Kyrgios won the men’s doubles title in 2022
Thanasi Kokkinakis admits his debilitating pectoral muscle injury will likely force him to pull out of his highly anticipated ‘Special Ks’ doubles reunion with Nick Kyrgios.
While Alex de Minaur will headline the Australians in action on Thursday, there was also a lot of anticipation surrounding the doubles action planned for the overnight session.
Kokkinakis and Kyrgios, the 2022 champions, were scheduled to play compatriots Aleksandar Vukic and James Duckworth in their first round match on Thursday evening.
Both had previously publicly declared their commitment to a return to doubles after capturing the nation’s attention with their blistering, upbeat run to the title.
“Yes, me and Thanasi, I think we owe it to each other to go there and play,” Kyrgios had said after exiting the first round in singles.
But unfortunately reality gets in the way again.
Kokkinakis grimaces in pain as he receives treatment for a debilitating injury during his loss to Jack Draper at the Australian Open on Wednesday night
The South Australian has all but confirmed the blow will force him out of the men’s doubles match with his mate Nick Kyrgios (pictured on his way to winning the 2022 Australian Open title)
While Kyrgios’ injuries have been the problem over the past two years, this time it will be Kokkinakis who will pull the pin.
Kokkinakis battled chest problems during his second-round marathon loss to No. 15 seed Jack Draper and later confirmed it was a long-standing problem that forced him to endure “mental and physical torture.”
He admitted he would probably have to retire from doubles as another long spell on the sidelines awaits.
“I feel like I’m letting him (Kyrgios) down, I’m letting people down, but yeah, I don’t know,” Kokkinakis said on Wednesday evening.
‘Tomorrow I won’t be able to lift my arm. So we’ll see.
“Unless we’re both playing underarm serves, it looks pretty unlikely.”
The news comes after tennis expert Will Boucek said Kyrgios could become the world’s No. 1 doubles player following his exit from men’s singles at the Open on Monday.
Had he won, Kokkinakis would have faced Vukic, who recorded a heartbreaking victory over Sebastian Korda, in the third round.
For his part, Vukic has no plans to pull the pin despite his first trip to the last 32 of a grand slam.
‘Me? No, no. I just talked to my partner Duckworth,” Vukic said.
The loss and the ongoing drama with his injury are a bitter blow for Kokkinakis and the Australian fans who were keen to see a repeat of his run to the title with Kyrgios.
“We were like, ‘Is it okay? We’re good. Let’s go.’
“So no chance.”
World number 8 de Minaur will tackle American Tristan Boyer – making his Rod Laver Arena debut – as he attempts to reach the last 16 for a fourth time.
Aussie wildcard Tristan Schoolkate has the ominous task of taking on reigning champion and world number 1 Jannik Sinner under lights at Rod Laver Arena.
Fellow wildcard James McCabe, 21, will play American Alex Michelsen on court three.
Elsewhere, Destanee Aiava, the only local woman left in the draw, will hope to continue her surprise career resurgence when she takes on No. 10 seed Danielle Collins at the Kia Arena.
Fellow former champions Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata kick off their campaign against top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.
In the women’s doubles, local Ellen Perez and Belgian Elise Mertens, the sixth seeds, will face Australia’s Jaimee Fourlis and Petra Hule.