Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has announced that Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios will play their men’s doubles semi-final on Rod Laver Arena tomorrow.
“We’re actually going to move the Special Ks from Kia Arena onto Rod Laver Arena,” Tiley told Nine’s Today this morning.
The pair have made the outer courts their home, bringing an infectious energy to Melbourne Park as they’ve continued on a dream run to the final four, knocking off several top seeds along the way.
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Previously, both Kyrgios and Kokkinakis had said they wanted to stay on Kia Arena, but Tiley’s decision came with a twist, allowing anyone with a ground pass to access centre court for the Aussie pair’s doubles semi, and also Dylan Alcott’s final match of his tennis career, the quad singles final.
“It’s a big call, but anyone coming on site tomorrow with a ground pass can get in to Rod Laver Arena and watch them play,” Tiley said.
The showtime atmosphere of the Kyrgios/Kokkinakis show will be followed by by Alcott in the men’s quad final against Sam Schroder. “We want to make Dylan’s match the most-watched wheelchair tennis match in the history of the game tomorrow afternoon,” Tiley said.
He went on to say this tournament had been the best ever from an Australian point of view.
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“It’s been an unbelievable performance – Ash is a match away from the finals, we’d love to see her get there, she’s playing great tennis.
“The ‘Special Ks’ have been a nice surprise, maybe they play doubles together all year, Nick said that last night. Then of course this is the swansong for Dylan.”
Victorian sports minister Martin Pakula announced shortly afterwards that there would be an increase to the ticketed capacity for the rest of the tournament.
https://twitter.com/MartinPakulaMP/status/1486116335528853504
The call to move the doubles semi may be unpopular given the special connection the pair had made with the rowdy fans on Kia Arena, but given the stature of the match, it seems as though organisers had a simple decision.
Kia Arena holds just 5000 spectators, while Rod Laver Arena can accomodate three times as many.
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