Thanasi Kokkinakis

Thanasi Kokkinakis is one of the most beloved figures in Australian tennis, and honestly, his story might be the most compelling in the entire sport right now. The Adelaide-born right-hander burst onto the scene as a teenager, reaching a career-high singles ranking inside the top 60 and showing the kind of all-court ability that had experts predicting Grand Slam contention. His partnership with Nick Kyrgios to win the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title? One of the most iconic moments in recent Australian sporting history. The scenes that night were unbelievable.

Here’s the thing about Kokkinakis — the talent has never been in question. Not for a single second. He possesses a huge serve, a powerful forehand, and the kind of creative shot-making that only the most naturally gifted players can produce. Multiple shoulder surgeries threatened to end his career entirely (and at certain points, most people would have forgiven him for walking away), but his perseverance and love for the sport brought him back to competitive tennis time and again. Australian fans have rallied behind him through every setback, recognising the extraordinary courage it takes to rebuild a career from the ground up.

At the Australian Open, Kokkinakis has produced genuinely unforgettable moments. That five-set victory over qualifier Kamil Majchrzak in the 2022 tournament, in front of a raucous Melbourne crowd, was one of the matches of the year — and the atmosphere in that arena was something I’ll never forget. South Australian by birth and heart, Kokkinakis represents the fighting spirit that Australians love in their sporting heroes, and his connection with the home crowd is unlike anything else in the tournament.

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Player Profile

Thanasi Kokkinakis remains a fan favourite at the Australian Open, where his talent and fighting spirit have produced some of the tournament’s most unforgettable moments. Despite the injury setbacks that have limited his ranking, his ability on any given day is genuinely top-20 calibre — and Australian crowds will always, always turn up to support one of their own. That’s just how it works with Kokkinakis at Melbourne Park.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com