Thanasi Kokkinakis targets top-100 return and injury-free 2019
The 22-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis has been one of the most promising players of the new generation, entering the top-100 at the age of 19 and finishing 2015 with 13 ATP wins and at the perfect position to attack more serious ranking positions in the following season. Instead of that, he had to undergo a right shoulder surgery at the end of the season and he played only one match in the entire 2016, missing all the action until May 2017 (he struggled with an abdominal strain) but reaching his first ATP final in Los Cabos in August.
More troubles waited just around the corner and Thanasi was unable to compete in the rest of the season after the US Open, entering 2018 from outside the top-200. Motivated to leave injuries and a terrible period behind him, Kokkinakis made a promising start of the year, beating Roger Federer in Miami to become the lowest-ranked player who toppled world number 1 in 15 years. The Adelaide native suffered another setback just a few weeks later, injuring his knee in the opening set of Monte Carlo Masters against Karen Khachanov when he caught an advertising padding and missing all the action until Roland Garros.
By the end of the season, Thanasi conquered Aptos and Las Vegas Challengers to gain some points and confidence and he is now ready to get back to his best in the season in front of us, well-rested and injury-free. Kokkinakis has been preparing in Melbourne and he took some time to watch the Australian Open Play-off action at Melbourne Park on Monday, also speaking about his current condition and plans for 2019:
"In the last couple of tournaments this season I wasn't at my best but I just tried to play and get some points. Things are looking good at the moment, the rehab had taken a little bit more time but hopefully, I can play for a full year in 2019. My main priority is to stay healthy, I have already shown my level against good rivals that I have played. If I stay focused and healthy I can do some good things, getting back into the top-100 as soon as possible is the main objective at the moment."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2RUj2rr
No comments