Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Stefanos Tsitsipas: Must-Watch Match on Thursday

Day 4 on the Australian Open might be a stacked one. The veteran Feliciano Lopez takes on younger Italian Lorenzo Sonego, teen prodigy Carlos Alcaraz faces Dutch player Botic Van de Zandschulp and Rafael Nadal is pitted in opposition to five-time Challenger Tour titlist Michael Mmoh.

The choose of the litter, nevertheless, has obtained to be Stefanos Tsitsipas going head-to-head with a resurrected Thanasi Kokkinakis. We discover the the reason why that is more likely to be the match of the day.

Kokkinakis on the comeback with nothing to lose

Earlier than enjoying on the Murray River Open a few weeks in the past, Thanasi Kokkinakis had not performed an ATP or Challenger match for the reason that Tiburon Challenger in September 2019, the place he reached the ultimate. He had been pressured to withdraw from the largest match of his profession in opposition to Rafael Nadal on the US Open solely weeks earlier than because of a right pectoral injury.

That is the tip of the iceberg in an injury-plagued profession for Kokkinakis. He broke his kneecap in Monte Carlo in 2018, mere weeks after defeating Roger Federer on the Miami Masters. He needed to pull out of the Barletta Challenger in 2019 with a shoulder harm. Kokkinakis additionally suffered from glandular fever in 2020, which brought about him to lose 10kg as he couldn’t eat correctly. (He has since put the load again on.) The list goes on.

It’s simple to neglect the Aussie remains to be solely 24 years outdated and has nonetheless obtained lots to offer to skilled tennis. It has been a troublesome highway however he’s again on the horse. Kokkinakis might be pleased simply to be again on-court which might imply he might be swinging freely – Tsitsipas should play effectively to fend him off.

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Each gamers are enjoying a few of their finest tennis

One may count on Kokkinakis to be rusty on the comeback path however he’s enjoying a few of his finest tennis. Granted, he has solely performed one match this event in opposition to Soonwoo Kwon, however his win was pretty emphatic, handing the Korean his heaviest defeat at a Grand Slam. Conversely, this was probably the most comfy win for Kokkinakis at a Grand Slam, having by no means gained a principal draw match in straight units beforehand.

Kokkinakis additional proved doubters mistaken by excelling in his serving and motion. He was in a position to hit 19 aces in opposition to Kwon, the joint-most aces he has hit in any finest of 5 match. Moreover, his motion has regarded distinctive for somebody that has been out of the sport, operating round to hit the inside-out forehand continuously. It appears to be like as if Kokkinakis has put the work within the offseason and it appears to be paying dividends.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is a distinct kettle of fish to Kwon, nevertheless. The Greek was in effective type in opposition to the ever difficult Gilles Simon–he managed to hit 25 winners to Simon’s six, an unbelievable accomplishment in opposition to a participant who refuses to surrender in any given rally. Tsitsipas lined his serve fantastically effectively and gave Simon a style of his medication on return, forcing him to play as many balls as doable. The efficiency is a sign that Tsitsipas has been working arduous on his return sport within the offseason.

Each gamers have put within the work the final couple of months and look to be in first rate type. If Kokkinakis can cling on to his personal serve effectively sufficient, Tsitsipas may very well be in bother.

The environment might be electrical

Kokkinakis may have some house assist and can doubtless draw on it as a lot as he can all through the match. Tsitsipas additionally has an affinity with the Melbourne crowd himself as he defeated Federer right here a few years in the past. Each gamers might be eager to offer their supporters one thing to shout about.

The match is to be performed on Rod Laver Area additionally so the gang might be on the highest capability doable on the Australian Open below the present restrictions.

Seize the popcorn…

Tune into the Australian Open this Thursday to catch these gamers locking horns. The match is because of begin not earlier than 13:30 AEST.

Most important Photograph from Getty.