Australian Open favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis is facing a battle to be fit for this year’s tournament (Image: GETTY)
favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis may be forced to withdraw from the 2025 edition of the tournament before it even gets underway. The Australian is due to take on Roman Safiullin in the first round of the singles and will also team up with in the doubles.
Kokkinakis, who is ranked at No. 77 in the world, has featured in six of the last seven editions of the singles.
And he in 2022 as the duo overcame compatriots Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in the showpiece match.
Kokkinakis has been in action at the Adelaide International over the last week and was involved in a three-hour marathon clash with Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Wednesday night as he battled to a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 victory.
But he was unable to take his place on the court for his quarter-final encounter with Sebastian Korda the following evening due to a shoulder injury.
And discussing the opening Grand Slam of the year at the media day, the 28-year-old explained: “Honestly, I’ve felt better. I’m quite frustrated – retiring last week wasn’t easy.
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Thanasi Kokkinakis (left) won the Australian Open doubles title alongside Nick Kyrgios in 2022 (Image: GETTY)
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“I’m not sure how I’ll be on Monday, I still have things to work on. I’m going to leave it there – I don’t know what else to say. It’s a very bad feeling when you do everything you can to prepare for the most important event.
“When things don’t work out later, it’s disappointing. But hey, nobody cares how you arrive – you have to go out and play and see what you can do.”
After making the decision to pull out of his match against Korda, Kokkinakis told the Adelaide International crowd: “Unfortunately I was in a lot of pain last night playing through an injury which has kept me out for many years and it just crept up on me.
“I pulled up even worse this morning so I’m pretty flat about that but I’m already looking forward to next year. The place was rocking last night – there’s no court that puts a feeling into me like this one here does.
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“The next goal for me is to try and see if I can be ready for next week [at the ], I’ve got a few days still to recover.”
And he later wrote on social media: “Shattered to have to pull out of Adelaide. Thank you to everyone, the support was incredible all week and felt the love. [Fingers crossed] for .”
Kokkinakis has featured in the singles on eight occasions but has never progressed beyond the second round. He could be eyeing up a second doubles title alongside Kyrgios, however, if he can win his fitness battle.