Thanasi Kokkinakis has revealed that he has considered stepping away from professional tennis multiple times due to a series of serious injuries that have left him questioning his capabilities and the achievability of his goals. The 28-year-old Australian made a promising start to his career, reaching the boys’ singles final at the 2013 Australian Open, where he lost to Nick Kyrgios. He won his first Challenger title in Bordeaux in 2015 and achieved a career-high ATP ranking of No. 69 that same year.
However, Kokkinakis’s trajectory took a downturn following a devastating shoulder injury that required surgery in late 2015, sidelining him for a year and a half. It took him four years to fully recover from the shoulder issue, during which he also faced abdominal, groin, and back injuries. Most recently, he suffered a knee injury at Wimbledon, forcing him to retire during his second-round match.
Despite his challenges, Kokkinakis has managed to secure one ATP title, winning the Adelaide International in 2022, and he achieved a new career-high ranking of No. 65 in late 2023. Reflecting on his journey, he expressed the mental toll of his injuries, saying, “At that point, I thought it would be a smooth progression to the top 10 and competing for Grand Slam titles. There were some tournaments where I was like, ‘I think this is me done,’ because I just felt so far off the pace.”
During this year’s Wimbledon, Kokkinakis began with a significant win over Felix Auger-Aliassime but sustained a knee injury against Lucas Pouille, leading to his retirement while trailing in the match. He described the experience as “tricky,” noting that the energy felt strange during the match.
Kokkinakis has also opened up about his struggles with mental health following his injuries. He described experiencing severe anxiety and depression, which affected his daily life. “Depression was a real thing. I’d walk into cafes and get really bad anxiety. I would just be crying in my room for no reason,” he recalled. However, he emphasized that he has since found ways to cope, including returning to the gym and building his physical strength.
Looking ahead, Kokkinakis is supportive of his friend Kyrgios, who has faced his own challenges with knee and wrist surgeries and has been limited to just one match in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. As Kyrgios prepares to return at the Brisbane International, Kokkinakis expressed excitement for his friend’s comeback. “Tennis has missed him. He has a different personality and brings a unique energy. I think the Australian public is going to love seeing him again,” he said, adding that he hopes they can play doubles together in the future.
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