Currently ranked just outside the top 100 in the ATP rankings, Thanasis Kokkinakis posed a serious challenge to Portuguese Nuno Borges (ATP-55) in the first round, but the 30-year-old tennis player was once again let down by his body.
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In the third set tiebreak, the battle was neck and neck, but trailing 4:5, the Australian suffered a double misfortune – a cramp in his right calf and, after an unsuccessful landing on the ground, a twisted right ankle.
It was precisely because of the ankle pain that T. Kokkinakis may have received medical assistance, but after a brief visit from the doctors, he decided to play the final point – losing with a score of 7:5, 6:7(3), 6:7(4).
The former world No. 65 has played just over 20 matches in the past two seasons due to severe shoulder and back injuries.
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T. Kokkinakis has participated in nine official tournaments this year and withdrew from five of them due to injury either before or during the match.
In one interview this year, the Australian tennis player revealed that he will try to prepare as best as possible for the next Australian Open and then make decisions about his future career.
