Thanasi Kokkinakis roars back with first Australian Open win in six years, to face Stefanos Tsitsipas next

“People around me know the ups and downs what I have been through mentally just trying to get to the starting line of the tournament, and feel like I can compete.”

And, yes, compete he can. In 2018 Kokkinakis beat Roger Federer at the Miami Open in what was then his latest comeback to the tour. It took nearly another 500 days to get his next ATP Tour win. Federer, absent this time from the Australian Open for the first time in more than 20 years, quietly congratulated the Australian after Kokkinakis set up a second-round match versus Stefanos Tsitispas.

“Nice one Thanaser,” Federer said in a message on Instagram. “Happy for you.”

Barely 18 months ago Kokkinakis had a similarly emotional experience in New York when he claimed his first win at a major in more than four years. This one – on home soil – topped it, he said, but only just.

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“This one was probably a bit more just being back home in Australia. They hadn’t obviously seen me play for a long period of time. I came on to the scene young,” he said.

“It’s definitely good to just persist, just knowing how much stuff and the ups and downs mentally that it’s given me to come back.”

That win at the US Open set up a prime-time second round clash with Rafael Nadal. But in a stark reminder of his ups and downs, he had to withdraw beforehand with a pectoral issue.

A year ago Kokkinakis experienced a severe case of glandular fever that put a line through his Australian summer. It’s been one thing after another – thus he’s not taking any moment for granted.

Leading 5-0 in the third set and up two sets to love the crowd roared at Melbourne Park. And Kokkinakis simply lived in the moment.

“I didn’t want to think about the finish line but I thought about it from the first set,” he said.

“I got the next one, I was like, ‘still got one more’. So at five-love I felt this massive roar and massive cheer from the crowd. I started tearing up, it was a bit of a soft moment.”

Born in Adelaide to Greek immigrants, Kokkinakis’ next match against top-10 player Tsitispas is a promoter’s dream. Crowds might be below expectations after just two days at Melbourne Park, but this will be an uplift.

“I kind of know his family. I’ve had some meals in Nice or Monaco with his family. Just obviously both being Greek, we get along,” Kokkinakis said.

“It’s going to be exciting. He’s obviously been able to stay healthy the last few years. And I kind of saw him when he was 60, 70 in the world and obviously knew he was going to be a great player then.

“I just can’t wait to get out there. I’m not sure what court we’ll play on, I’m sure it will be a pretty big one. I’m hoping there is a decent crowd and can get rowdy, have some Greek fans, Aussie fans, and, yeah, hopefully it’s pretty loose.“