AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 11, 2025

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Thanasi, how special is it for you to play at home with the Australian crowd supporting you?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: It's the best. There's nothing like it. We don't get to do it too often. Have to make the most of it while we can. It's the thing you'll miss most when you retire and stop playing. Playing in front of the fans, the energy they give you. I live here in Melbourne now, so having friends and family come down and support is a cool feeling.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Might be a bit late to ask, but you're using the Babolat at the moment. Before that it was the Yonex. Before that Babolat again. What were you looking for when you switched? Why did you make that move back again?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, it's what I used to use sort of when I was probably from 10 years old. I've kind of switched a little bit. But I've used it for ages. I changed to Yonex for a little bit. I've gone back to Babolat. I was using a blacked out one for a little while.

I just felt like courts and tournaments were getting a lot slower. The balls were getting a lot bigger, not great. I felt like a little bit more added power, which I get now, I felt like was going to help me long-term and hopefully injury-wise.

Yeah, that was probably the reason for switching.

Q. Blacked out, was that just for looks?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: No, no. Contract stuff. If I could play with an all-black racquet, I would. It would be cool. It would be a best seller if companies did it (smiling).

Q. If you could pick any player's skill set, past or present, what player and what skill set would you pick?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: That's a good one. It's hard to really pick one or who the best server was. Yeah, it would probably be Isner's serve. Whoever you pick in the best server of all time, that one (smiling).

Q. How are you feeling? How are you placed for this tournament? You might be able to knock a few wins out here, have a little run?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I can give you an honest answer or fake one (smiling).

No, I've felt better, to be honest. I'm pretty frustrated. Obviously pulling out last week was tough. I'm not sure how I'm going to go come Monday when I start. We'll see. Got a few things I need to work through.

Yeah, I'll probably just leave it at that. I don't know what else to say. I don't know how I'm going to feel on Monday.

Q. You've been through this before. How tough is it going into a Grand Slam with a question mark on you?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, it's the worst feeling 'cause you feel like you do everything you can to kind of prepare and get as ready as you can be for me my most important event. Then when something doesn't quite go right or it lets you down, it's tough.

The thing I work hardest on the most, recover, make sure I got into the best shape I can, when that fails you time and time again, that's the one that is pretty head-scratching and pretty tough.

But it is what it is at the end of the day. No one cares if you roll out there. You got to go out and play and see what you can do.

Q. With your injury issues and Nick not feeling great, have you spoken to him about doubles and whether or not that is or isn't to happen?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I think both of us made a pact on that, unless we are seriously, seriously hurt badly, we're going to try to come out there even if we're not feeling great. That's one thing, we can rely on each other and play. We don't know what we're going to produce out there. But for sure we are going to take the court.

Q. Has he told you how he's feeling?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, we've exchanged a few messages before walking in. That will stay with me and Nick.

Q. With the doubles, does that give you a bit of a smile, regardless of the singles, you have something there that you can have a good run?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Definitely. It's a lot of fun. I think for both of us, doubles is so much easier physically. It's not even comparable. I don't think I've ever been sore after a doubles match in my life.

If I am sore or something is injured, it's because of a singles that's happened. That's something to look forward to. It's lot easier physically and mentally as well when you have a mate you like playing with. We haven't played here since we won. I think it's great. The crowd will love it. Hopefully we can produce some good stuff. Yeah, we'll see.

Q. Have you had a run with him at all since the Open or...

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: We played a couple events so we made ATP Finals that year. I think maybe only six or seven for the whole year.

So yeah, our last event together I think was the ATP Finals.

Q. You're Greek and from Melbourne. There's a large Greek population here. Where is the best place to get good Greek food in Melbourne?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: That's a good question. Mum's when she flies over from Adelaide. I was going to elaborate (smiling).

I always like Jim's Greek. I think you can't go wrong with that. I tried a place the other day that was very sort of village Greek, which Kafeneion in the city. I'm sure there's a few more that I haven't quite been do.

I live close to Zeus. Something quick, I get Zeus. I think it's severely underrated. If they want to give me a card, I'd appreciate it, because I spent my life savings in that joint.