Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis has fought off a top 20 opponent, four match points and the weather to win one of the most remarkable five-setters of his singles career.
The No.93 staged a steely-eyed comeback to knock Canadian 17th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime out of Wimbledon 6-4 7-5 6-7(9) 4-6 4-6 in a first round match that lasted more than four and a half hours and finished almost a full day after it began.
Kokkinakis gave up points at critical times early, going down a break in the third game of the first set and dropping three games in a row to drop the second.
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Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia celebrates as he plays against Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada . Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
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But he showed real grit in the third set, keeping things on serve and fighting off four match points in a gruelling tie-break that he at one stage led 5-0.
In the fourth, Auger-Aliassime double-faulted to give up a break and Kokkinakis was just a game away from serving for the set when the heavens opened up again as the miserable English summer played havoc with the first round draw.
It was almost a full day later when the players returned to court two on Wednesday (early Thursday AEST) and Kokkinakis looked switched on.
Thanasi Kokkinakis winning match point against Felix Auger-Aliassime . Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
The Australian forced the serving Canadian to four deuces but couldn’t close out the set, instead relying on a faultless service game of his own to force a decider that was again briefly delayed by the weather.
“It’s not even raining!” a very Australian voice yelled out from the crowd as the match referee held the players off the court yet again early in the decider.
The fifth set looked destined for another tie-break as both players served big and stepped up their games in the rallies, trading bombs from the baseline and beautiful light touches at the net.
But Kokkinakis seized the clash by the scruff of the neck halfway through the set, breaking Auger-Aliassime on the back of two stunning returns, one unplayable and the other an outright winner.
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada checks the court surface as the chair umpire watches during his match against Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
I knew I had to bring my best level. The first two sets didn’t go as planned but I stayed the course,” Kokkinakis said after the match.
“I’ve come back from two sets to love before so I just tried to focus. It’s pretty cliche but one game at a time, one set at a time and go from there.”
Serious during the match, the Aussie was at his light-hearted best courtside joking that London’s weather was “back to normal” this week.
Asked what he loved so much about playing grand slam five-setters he said “I’d rather not”.
“It really doesn’t help me going deeper into the tournament, that’s for sure. But if I could do it earlier, I would,” he said.
“Thankfully it is five, otherwise I wouldn’t have won many matches this year. So I’ve come back, I’ve given myself a chance.
“That’s the beauty of five sets. It’s a roller coaster. A lot of momentum swings and yeah, there’s no shot clock, no time clock, so just just keep playing and see what happens.”
Thanasi Kokkinakis raised his arms high before hitting his chest with his raquet. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Vukic and Thompson go out in straight sets
Australia’s Aleksander Vukic matched it with one of the tournament favourites for a set before eventually capitulating 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-2.
After going down a break, the world No.69 broke No.3 seed Carlos Alcaraz twice in a row to get himself in position to serve for the opening set.
But the jeopardy seemed to be the spark Alcaraz needed to get going, stepping up his level notably to break Vukic at 5-6.
Vukic pushed his more-fancied opponent, notably pulling off an incredible save from a well-placed Alcaraz drop shot, but went down 7-5.
From there the Spaniard settled into more of a rhythm to ease through to a second round match-up with Frances Tiafoe in one hour and 48 minutes.
Australian world No.40 Jordan Thompson was no match for American Brandon Nakashima, who dispatched his higher-ranked opponent 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in a little more than an hour and a half.
The No.65 dominated in all areas, sending down nine aces and hitting 37 winners to 17.