Australian Open 2022: Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinaki into men's doubles final after explosive clash

There’s a lot on the line for the four men playing in this weekend’s All-Australian doubles final. Pride, money, a grand slam title and for one of them, the chance to witness the birth of their child.

Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios react after winning through to the men’s doubles final. Picture: BRANDON MALONE/AFP

There’s a lot on the line for the four men playing in this weekend’s All-Australian doubles final.

Pride, money, a grand slam title and for Matt Ebden possibly missing the birth of his child.

For the first time since 1982, Australia is guaranteed a men’s doubles title after Ebden and partner Max Purcell secured their spot against the dynamic duo of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

The foursome will battle it out on Saturday night after Ash Barty’s women’s singles final where she is looking to become the first Australian winner in 42 years.

With plenty of history on the line, Ebden says his priority (besides winning) is to get home to Perth in time for the new addition.

WA Premier Marc McGowan has put a spanner in the works in recent days, with the 16-time slam competitor resigning himself to the fact he may well miss out because of border issues.

“I have a baby on the way,” Ebden told Channel 9 on Friday.

“My wife is due in the next two weeks. So I’m delaying getting back to Perth. I have to go back and do two weeks of quarantine now and potentially miss the birth of my baby because of this.

Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell of Australia celebrate match point

“When I left it was certain that I could return on 5 February but the due date is the 14th and likely to come early.”

Ebden and Purcell - unseeded in this tournament - beat No.2 seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury 6-3 7-6 (11-9) to secure their spot in the big dance.

And the settings for their semi-final could not have been further from the chaos on Rod Laver for the Special K’s.

There were fewer than 100 people on Margaret Court watching the duo - now being called the M7Ms - while Kyrgios and Kokkinakis fired up a capacity crowd on the main show court.

While players have lashed Kyrgios in recent days for his on court behaviour and the environment he and Kokkinakis create, Ebden says he and his partner know what they’re coming up against on Saturday night.

“We respect them like any other pair we have played,” Ebden said.

“We have had three or four tough matches and these guys are slightly different and not the traditional doubles pair. But great singles players and they combine well in the doubles. They’re super dangerous, they serve really well. So it’s going to be tough in that regard, for sure.

“They’re entertainers, they use the crowd a lot. We have been channelling that a bit in our home slam. We are no strangers to big crowds and loud noises.

“This is my 16th Australian Open and Max has played a lot of big matches. We have played Davis Cup and played all around the world in stadiums that feel like soccer stadiums sometimes.”

CARNIVAL ON ROD LAVER

The circus turned into a full-blown carnival as Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis helped set up the first all-Australian doubles final in 42 years in extraordinary fashion.

The pair brought the Kia Arena energy to centre court on Thursday, adding the scalps of third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in straight sets on their giant-killing run to Saturday’s final, where they’ll face fellow Australians Max Purcell and Matt Ebden.

The Special Ks have now knocked off the top, third, sixth and 15th seeds en route to their first grand slam final, capping off a monstrous week for the local hopes at this year’s Australian Open.

What started out as fun has turned into a title run, even if claiming silverware is secondary for two of tennis’ great entertainers.

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Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrate match point Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

“That’s honestly what we’ve been playing for all week. The wins are a bonus,” Kokkinakis said.

“But to see kind of the traction it’s gotten and the energy it’s gotten, and how much everyone is supporting, that’s what we thrive off of. So hopefully we can have that (in the final).

“Honestly, winning is a second. It sounds stupid, but winning has been our second priority every time. We hope to have fun, enjoy ourselves, enjoy our time on court. Hopefully (fans) feel feel like they’ve paid good money to watch us.”

Their antics haven’t always been well received – with Kyrgios labelled an “absolute knob” by quarter-final opponent Michael Venus – but he revealed Thursday’s match had been played in a much better spirit, while taking one final shot at the New Zealander.

Nick Kyrgios, right, had a message from Michael Venus after the doubles semi-final win. Picture: Michael Klein

“I’m not going to destroy (Venus) in this media conference room right now,” he said.

“But Zeballos and Granollers are singles players. They’ve had great careers. I respect them a lot more than I respect Michael Venus.

“I think the balance was there today. The quality of tennis was amazing. I think the festival atmosphere was still there. And I think they embraced it.

“Zeballos took a selfie with us before we walked out. That’s how you embrace an atmosphere.”

In fact, it was Kyrgios who snapped at the crowd rather than the third seeds – destroying a racquet after being broken while seemingly in cruise control in the second set.

Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are through to an all-Aussie final. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing with another Kyrgios racquet smashed. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

“You’re gonna keep letting them scream before I serve? It happened four times that game,” an exasperated Kyrgios said to match umpire James Keovathong as Kokkinakis cleaned debris from the court.

But the pair recovered to break back and ice a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win in front of the Godfather of Australian tennis, Rod Laver himself.

On Margaret Court Arena, Purcell and Ebden toppled the second-seeded Joe Salisbury and Rajiv Ram to be the first to reach the final, which will feature two Australian pairs for the first time since Mark Edmondson and Kim Warwick defeated Paul McNamee and Peter McNamara in 1980.

Originally published as Australian Open 2022: Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinaki into men's doubles final after explosive clash