Thanasi Kokkinakis, Big Heart and All Black Kit

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Thanasi Kokkinakis, Big Heart and All Black Kit

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday February 9, 2021

It’s been a while since Thanasi Kokkinakis has been a regular fixture on tour. Injuries have marred his promising career, but the 24-year-old Aussie is back in good health—touch wood—for the moment.

Kokkinakis, a former World No. 69, won his first Australian Open match in six years on Day 2 in Melbourne, defeating Soonwoo Kwon of South Korea, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.

It was a blue collar performance from Kokkinakis, in more ways than one. After his victory the Aussie revealed to press that he is without an apparel sponsor and has been buying his all-black kits at a local K-Mart.

“K-Mart special,” he said. “Went to Chadstone, bought some $6 tees and went to work. I just felt comfortable in it. I've tried to order some more online but they got canceled and they didn't make it through to South Yarra. It's tough out here, man. It's not what it used to be. That's all right, blue collar way.”

Kokkinakis’ injury troubles began in earnest in 2016 when he had shoulder and pectoral injuries that kept him out for most of the season. He eventually worked his way back to health, earning his first Top 10 win at Queen’s Club in 2017 over Milos Raonic and then taking out Roger Federer in Miami in 2018 for his first win over a reigning World No.1. But a knee injury set him back again in the spring of 2018.

It would take him 492 days to record his next ATP win and by the end of 2019 he was in injury trouble again, suffering another shoulder injury. Last year he was slated to play the Australian Open but had to pull out with glandular fever.

He is making his first Grand Slam appearance since 2019, and after the match he was emotional talking about the victory.

Only those close know the journey....
Grateful I get another chance at this thing🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/SLxi1EVHNl
— Thanasi Kokkinakis (@TKokkinakis) February 9, 2021

“I felt this massive roar and massive cheer from the crowd,” he said. “I started tearing up, it was a bit of a soft moment. Yeah, it was just so much stuff behind the scenes to get back to that point. Not a lot of people realize apart from my team and friends and family. Yeah, definitely got a bit emotional.”

As far as the clothing sponsorship goes, he says not too worry, he’ll score a deal at some point.

“I'll bring it back at some point,” said Kokkinakis, who will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in second-round action on Day 4. “Hopefully I can keep playing good tennis and that will come. I'm not too worried. If I feel good out there with my footwear, my clothing, and feel like I look good, I will try and play good. We will see what happens.”

Kokkinakis is thrilled to be back in good health, and if he stays healthy over the long-term, he still has plenty of time to reach his potential in the sport.

"I know what I can do on the tennis court if I'm feeling all right physically," he said. "There's definitely been ups and downs for sure. It's been very, very challenging the last few years. It always is. It's a massive, massive journey. And I know my team and family know kind of what exactly I go through. So it's been really hard. But again, I look on the moments where I've had success and the feelings I got from being on court and having good wins. I use that to kind of fuel me for as long as I can. I know I can't do this forever. So even if I'm just struggling at certain moments I kind of hang on those moments to kind of push me through and just give it a crack."

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