Including salt to the uncooked wound, Thanasi Kokkinakis’ gut-wrenching second-round Australian Open loss will depart the in-form star scrambling to make the principle draw of the season’s remaining three grand slam occasions.
As if he was not already crushed sufficient after letting a two-sets-to-love and 5-2 lead slip in opposition to Andy Murray, Kokkinakis is now in a determined race in opposition to the clock to elevate his flagging rating earlier than the French Open in Could.
Regardless of lastly being freed from damage and taking part in the perfect tennis of his profession, Kokkinakis is projected to be languishing at No.135 on the planet after the Open.
The 26-year-old must climb again into the highest 100 to be assured direct entry to Roland Garros, the place he as soon as reached the third spherical as an thrilling teenage expertise and shared heart court docket with Novak Djokovic.
If he can’t, the South Australian might want to attempt his luck in qualifying, or depend on Tennis Australia awarding him the one wildcard they’re issued underneath a reciprocal association with the French Tennis Federation.
The tough predicament is a merciless postscript to essentially the most dispiriting defeat of Kokkinakis luckless, injury-plagued profession.
The one-time Roger Federer slayer was already reeling bodily and mentally from the five-hour, 45-minute heartbreaker that completed at 4.05 on Friday morning.
“Do not actually know what to say …. Wow, this f***ing sport man,” Kokkinakis posted on Instagram whereas attempting to digest the 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7 -5) 6-Three 7-5 defeat.
“Give it every thing I had final night time and fell brief. You are a warrior @andymurray and an honor to share that court docket with you.
“To everybody who helps me, THANK YOU.”
Kokkinakis’ bitter capsule ends his 2023 Open marketing campaign after he was pressured to withdraw from his doubles title protection when taking part in companion Nick Kyrgios pulled out of the singles on Monday with a knee damage.
His departure leaves 22nd seed Alex de Minaur and fellow Sydneysider Alexei Popyrin to fly the Australian flag within the singles.
De Minaur performs Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi on Saturday for a spot within the final 16, with Popyrin up in opposition to American Ben Shelton because the wildcard chases a spot within the second week of a grand slam for the primary time.
