Thanasi Kokkinakis is steeling himself for the ‘circus’ that is Nick Kyrgios as he plots to out-perform tennis’s greatest showman in a genuine US Open showstopper in New York.
Forget Broadway, a seat at sold-out Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night is the hottest ticket in town, with the Australian doubles partners clashing after Serena Williams plays possibly the last match of her transcendent career.
Most of the 23,771 available tickets were snapped up within hours of Williams announcing earlier this month that she was ‘evolving away from tennis’ after her 21st Open campaign.
Thanasi Kokkinakis and good friend Nick Kyrgios pose with the trophy after winning the doubles final of the Atlanta Open. The two will meet in the first round of the US Open
Although Kokkinakis (pictured left) is favoured to get beaten by his far more fancied friend, he believes he has the weapons to upstage the Wimbledon runner-up
The 23-time grand slam champion’s ‘curtain raiser’ against Montenegrin Danka Kovinic is sure to be a stirring affair, regardless of the result, with Kyrgios saying he couldn’t afford to get swept up in the hysteria.
The Wimbledon runner-up is favoured to topple his great mate, but Kokkinakis has other ideas.
Finally injury free and set to complete his first full grand slam season in seven years, Kokkinakis believes he has the weapons to upstage Kyrgios in their first meeting in professional ranks.
‘I’m not just going to sit back and wait. I’ve got to be aggressive and play my game and hopefully it works for me,’ Kokkinakis told AAP.
Kokkinakis says Kyrgios has been creating a circus around him since he was 12
Kokkinakis, though, accepts nothing will come easily, wary not only of Kyrgios’s potent serve but also his colourful antics. The 26-year-old says he won’t take any Kyrgios theatrics personally but knows he must have the answers.
‘He loves to kind of live in the chaos a bit when it comes to matches. He turns it into a bit of a circus around him and he’s just so comfortable with that,’ Kokkinakis said.
‘He’s done it from such a young age. Even 12 and under, 13 and under nationals – I’ve known him for a while. But he’s got the game, obviously, to back it up. It’s not just that, so it will be awkward.’
The US Open tweeted the above graphic – a homage to the cartoon TV show Rick and Morty, but with Kyrgios and Kokkinakis as the title characters
The US open posted on its Twitter page a hilarious graphic of Kyrgios and Kokkinakis but styled like the popular cartoon TV show Rick and Morty – with Kokkinakis as the much smaller character Morty, who is usually abused and made the butt of jokes by his uncle Rick.
The caption said: ‘Singles opponents one day, doubles partners the next. More classic Nick and Thanasi adventures!’
Kokkinakis retweeted it, saying: ‘Did me dirty @usopen’ accompanied by laughing emojis.
Kyrgios says Kokkinakis is among the rivals on tour with whom he wouldn’t ‘cross the line’ on court because of their friendship.
But Kokkinakis says he understands what lies behind Kyrgios’ often explosive demeanour.
Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are great friends and doubles partners – pictured above playing in the final of the Atlanta Open in July 2022
‘I’ve seen him do it with a lot of close players he’s played on tour. That’s just him. It’s what makes him tick and what brings the best out of him with his tennis,’ Kokkinakis said.
‘So I’ve got to find what works for me the best on the day. ‘It’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out, whether we’re going to come out a little flat or whether the energy’s intense. ‘It will be weird. I don’t know – I honestly couldn’t say how it’s going to play out.’
Kyrgios or Kokkinakis will play the winner of the all-French match between Ugo Humbert and Benjamin Bonzi in the second round.
Five of the Special Ks’ compatriots are also in action on day one, including Australia’s men’s and women’s No.1s Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic, plus former quarter-finalist John Millman, Jordan Thompson and Daria Saville.
Finally injury free and set to complete his first full grand slam season in seven years, Kokkinakis believes he has the weapons to upstage Kyrgios in their first meeting in professional ranks.
AUSSIES IN ACTION ON DAY ONE OF THE US OPEN AT FLUSHING MEADOWS
(PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):
From 1am Tuesday AEST
Men’s singles, first round
18-Alex de Minaur v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Jordan Thompson v Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)
John Millman v Emilio Nava (USA)
23-Nick Kyrgios v Thanasi Kokkinakis, about 11am
Women’s singles, first round
Ajla Tomljanovic v Karolina Muchova (CZE)
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