AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 13, 2025

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Press Conference

T. KOKKINAKIS/R. Safiullin

3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Thanasi, some big emotion expressed at the end of that match. Tell us how you're feeling right now.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, just an unbelievable feeling to get in front of that crowd again. That roar, that atmosphere, they really willed me on like they've done so much throughout the years. Incredible emotions and memories there.

Yeah, to play in front of them, it was tough. I wasn't sure if I was going to get to the start line. Wasn't sure if I'd be able to finish the match. They were incredible. Yeah, wanted to do it as much for them.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you explain to us a little bit about what your injury is, the latest one, if it's anything serious.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I had a few things going on obviously from Adelaide. Just an injury that I struggled with for many years, then picked up something the start of the second set onwards. I can't remember the exact moment. Yeah, felt something in my leg a little bit.

Tried to tape it up. That didn't help. On a lot of painkillers. We'll see. Haven't looked into it too deep. Will probably check it out properly in the next few days.

Q. Australian players talk about the pressure of playing at a home slam. How do you weigh that up against the support you got today?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: There's definitely a lot of pressure. Didn't sleep great last night. A little bit of anxiety coming out. I think it's normal. I think it's a lot of excitement.

There's pressure, but why would you play? It's an unbelievable feeling going out there and having that support, having all those fans and people yelling for you. I live here A lot of friends and family coming out and supporting.

Especially thinking about my family, how many hours and how much money the parents put into you growing up, stuff like that. You think about that when you're out on court and competing. Yeah, it's a special feeling.

Q. How much of an advantage do you think Aussies have here in Melbourne with such passionate fans?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, it's incredible. I don't think Australians have much advantage throughout the whole year, so it's good to get a little bit in January. We're at a severe disadvantage, especially if you live in Australia, like I do.

You got to try to lap up the summer as much as you can. I think I've brought some of my best tennis here. I think it's no surprise it's to do with playing at home, playing in front of friends and family with that support.

Yeah, I would say it's a special feeling and it's why you want to play.

Q. I don't think there's been an announcement, you don't appear to be working with Todd Langman these days. Is it Brandon Walkin in the coach's box?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yes.

Q. Can you take us through your coaching setup.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Brandon is my main coach at the moment. Was in Todd obviously for many, many years. It was tough for them, with family, with some little kids. I'm sure we'll link up again in the future.

I have John as my fitness trainer and Brandon is my main coach at the moment. Not sure how many weeks he can do. I might have to supplement with a couple guys in and out a little bit. Everyone's got their own lives as well. That's a tough part. Need to be a bit unselfish for me at times.

At the moment it's Brandon and John as my fitness coach.

Q. You had your shorts on in Adelaide. With the whole Spartan Warrior, is it an ethos that you kind of buy into? It's a nod to your heritage. Is it something that you've explored or try to draw on?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: My dad will try to give me a history lesson every time he can. He's very passionate about that stuff.

I thought it was a cool Cotton On design they came up with. They're popular. A lot of people like them. I think it's kind of shown a little bit in my tennis throughout the years, my story a little bit, like to compete, like to fight. When you're feeling niggles or stuff that's not quite feeling 100%, you got to try and compete and bring it out there.

Q. How do you feel your preparation was coming into this tournament? There was some commentary from Todd Woodbridge this morning that suggested maybe you shouldn't have played some of those challengers and exhibition matches at the end of last year.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: That's fine. Trying to make a good living, as well. That's why he's trying to host every game show there is under the sun. We're trying to make a living as much as he is.

Unfortunately, ATP sometimes, if you make a semifinal of a 250 event, you don't get as much as what you would playing an exhibition. I've been pretty vocal that the season's too long. Sometimes you got to weigh up your options as far as trying to do what's best for your career, best for the ranking.

It's a tricky one. Obviously it's a lot less stress on my body, a lot less stress mentally. I missed a lot of years and a lot of money not playing with injuries and whatnot.

If I have opportunities that come up, Laver Cup is an incredible opportunity I couldn't turn down. Obviously played a lot of Davis Cup as well, which no one mentioned. I'm competing for Australia, as well. That didn't really get mentioned in his article.

And also just it's tough when people comment when they have no idea about the injury or what sort of tennis I'm playing. I haven't lost this year. Yes, I picked up something, but it has nothing to do with my off-season.

Q. Is the injury getting worse?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, it's something I'll have to look at. It's something I've been playing through the last five years. I got unfortunately pretty bad advice five or six years ago. I didn't listen to my body. I listened to the experts. Put me in a bit of a hole.

I'll probably have to look at doing something after Australian Open.

Q. You made some comments when you withdrew from Adelaide that you would take a moment to think about whether you play here. Would you only consider playing the Australian Open in your current condition or would you play any Grand Slam in your current condition?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: That's a good question. I'm not sure. Probably more so because it's Australian Open. I have to sit down with a couple experts and my team after and realize what's next 'cause at the moment I feel like I have a level that I'm not able to reach as far as consistency and tournaments go. I know my tennis is there. I think I've proven that enough.

There's a limit sometimes on what I feel I can achieve as far as tournaments week in and week out. That's body related more than anything. I probably need to look at options to potentially give me a way to explore what I think my ranking can be.

Q. Can we check what you're doing with doubles? Is that wait and see?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I mean, it's going to be wait and see. We've been talking every day. He's been asking me, Are you sure you want to play doubles? Are you sure you're in?

I said, Yes, unless my arms are falling off the bone, I'm going to try to get out there.

We owe it to the public, the support they've shown to us, how much they love when we play and get out there. I think we're going to try and give it a run no matter how he's feeling or how I'm feeling. Obviously we don't want to do any serious damage to ourselves, but we'll see how we go.

Q. Thoughts on Jack Draper?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Obviously a great player. Came and had a very good year, the following year, the last year, sorry. I think he's around 15 or something in the world. He's going from strength to strength. We've had three matches maybe. He's won two, I've won one. All extremely tight matches.

The first one I lost in Davis Cup serving for the match. The next one I got him. The last one was 7-5 in the third. A great player. Future stars of the sport or current stars as well.

Yeah, going to be a battle for sure. Hopefully the body pulls up all right and I can give it my best.

Q. Nick has a mortgage on John Cain. Would you be happy to call Kia Arena your home arena?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Wherever I can get fans that crazy, I'm all for. I used to be on Show Court 3. I've leveled up a little bit to Kia (smiling). That's nice.

I played on Cain last year, had a massive five-setter there, won my first round there, which was crazy. He's always loved John Cain. Again, I'm second fiddle at times when he plays. Deservedly so. He's had some great matches on that court.

We played doubles on Kia. Kia was a lot of fun today for sure.