Thanasi Kokkinakis is through to the fourth round of an ATP 1000 event for the first time in seven years, after prevailing in a tense encounter against Denis Kudla at the Miami Open.
Kokkinakis, now the world No.97, held his nerve in two separate tiebreakers to seal a 7-6 (5) 4-6 7-6 (4) win over America’s Kudla. He will face Alexander Zverev in the next round.
The clash against Zverev will be Kokkinakis’ first fourth-round match in an ATP 1000 event since he was beaten by fellow Australian Bernard Tomic in the fourth round of the 2015 Indian Wells Masters.
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It continues what has been a brilliant 2022 season for Kokkinakis, after he secured his first ATP singles title at the Adelaide International, before winning the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open alongside Nick Kyrgios.
Kokkinakis has already tallied 11 ATP main draw wins so far in 2022, after managing just 14 total wins in the previous six years.
Kyrgios, who is also in the fourth round and has a match-up against Jannik Sinner on deck, could not hide his excitement for his great friend.
“Now he’s finally a happy person,” Kyrgios said of Kokkinakis.
“He’s had some really bad years where he felt uncomfortable because of all the injuries. Now everything is going right and I think he deserves all his current happiness.”