ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 11, 2023

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Press Conference

T. KOKKINAKIS/A. Rublev

6-4, 3-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Thanasi's third top-10 win, first on home soil. Thanasi, just tell us about the impressive win tonight over Rublev.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I knew I had to bring my A game. He's a hell of a player. A really good guy, as well. Some people don't know him that well, or just don't know him behind the scenes, but he's actually a real good dude as well. Pretty close friends with him. A lot of respect for him with how he plays, how he goes about it.

Yeah, getting it in front of the home crowd in Adelaide, I felt like I was playing some really good tennis. I had a chance last week to do some good things, but lost to a great player. Stoked I can keep that form, keep pushing and get a good win tonight.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. About 'the third time', certainly the Federer result would be at the top, I would think, so would this be just after that?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I mean, beating Fed is on its own a little bit. Yeah, any time you can beat those top guys, it's a massive achievement.

I know what level I'm capable of. I'm disappointed in myself when I don't bring it as consistently as I'd like. That's my goal this year, is to just keep trying to play better and better, keep pushing myself.

I get distracted a lot of the times on tour playing. I find it very tough to focus week in, week out. That's the difference between the top guys. If I can get a little bit of that level of focus and intensity for longer periods of time, I think my ranking can do some good things.

Q. What did it feel like playing the match? How important was that crowd? You are the defending champion as well.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I mean, the crowd's great. I feel at home on this court. I played some really good tennis. Even my ball striking all week has felt really good. I felt really happy with how I'm hitting the ball. The next play is just to kind of execute, giving the crowd a little bit to cheer about.

I want to kind of stay focused and stay in the moment as well rather than just worry about getting the crowd amped up. Crowd can't help you if you're messing up shots because you're more worried about them than what's at task.

I want not to get too pumped up and only pick my moments. Against someone like that, if you take your foot off the gas, it can come back to bite you.

Q. At 5-3 in the third set, Love-30, what were you thinking?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I was thinking land a serve, miss a return, please (smiling).

I landed two decent first serves, not my best ones, but decent. He played some great points, hustled. That's what the good players do. You have to take it away from them. I hustled.

That Love-30 point was massive. I was seething when that final serve just missed long. Yeah, I was 50/50 on it. Felt a bit long off the racquet. Had to get back to business, trust my game.

But, yeah, Love-30, I was like, Not again. Not 'not again', but I was like, I don't want to get broken here. The balls are fairly new. I knew it was going to be a good chance to pull it off.

But I had some heavy legs. Not going to lie.

Q. How can you pace yourself to go as deep as you can in this tournament but preserve yourself for Melbourne?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I mean, I'm not taking these matches for granted. Home soil, in Adelaide. Obviously you'd love to have some preparation sort of going into Aussie Open, a few days' rest to time it out.

I'll take those wins every day of the week, beating quality players, playing at that level. Yeah, as I said, I don't know how many Adelaide Internationals there are going to keep being, but I'm trying to take in every moment.

I love playing here. I'll worry about next week when it comes to it, keep trying to get through my matches this week.

Q. Can you talk about his forehand, wide to the backhand court.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I practiced with him a few times this week. Yeah, he hits the ball incredible. You can see when he's in a zone. He's a hell of a player. 6 in the world for a reason.

That forehand is pretty special. I think I can go toe-to-toe with him when I'm playing well, to be honest. I like my forehand as well.

Yeah, I feel like I've got weapons to upset these top guys.

Q. What difference does it make to your game when your serve is on?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: It's a big part. I've got to keep building the other parts of my game to make me a well-rounded player. When I am landing that first serve and getting after it tonight, it gives me a lot of free points. Then hopefully gives me a chance to put some scoreboard pressure in, take cuts on returns, play some good returning points.

Yeah, when my first serve is going well, it's my backbone. I feel like I can do some good things.

Q. Kecmanovic had a tight win over Jason. What are your thoughts about going against him?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I mean, Kecmanovic, another quality player. He's not as high ranked as Rublev, but he's bloody good. Had a real good start to the year last year, I remember. Rock solid from the ground, real solid baseliner. Doesn't give much away. I am going to have to bring my A game again.

I know Jason is playing some good tennis. For him to beat Jason... I watched a couple of his matches in Indian Wells sort of last year, also Miami, that Alcaraz match. He can bring a very high level.

Just because I beat someone 6 doesn't mean I'm going to beat Kecmanovic. I know where my ranking is at. If I dip my level, I'm not going to be able to play with these guys. So I got to keep my level up and keep playing well.

Q. What are the benefits of playing your home tournament the week before Melbourne?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I mean, it doesn't matter if it was before Australian Open, after Australian Open. To see the crowd come out... Obviously the first week there are a lot of matches packed because Djokovic is here, obviously a lot of big names.

To see how they keep turning up for me, what a draw it feels like, how I've been kind of embraced by people of Adelaide, to be honest, then coming out and supporting me. You really want to give it your all for them.

As I said, incredible memories on this court. Having friends and family here watching, getting some big wins. Honestly, I wouldn't want to play anywhere else. Trust me, I'd love if there were more tournaments in Australia. Probably what I struggle with the most. That's a luxury, pretty well-documented, a lot of Europeans and Americans have, a lot of tournaments in their backyard. When I have the chance to play in Australia or play at home, I'm going to try to make the most of it.