Sam Groth: Thanasi Kokkinakis finally back in swing of things after wild injury ride

No one pays much attention to you when you’re injured. Thanasi Kokkinakis has had it all ripped away - and more - and that makes his win on Tuesday even more special, writes Sam Groth.

I honestly wasn’t sure we would see the day Thanasi Kokkinakis would be back to winning grand slam matches on home soil given how much he has been through - and I am so happy to be proven wrong.

The 2015 Australian Open – his last win here – I remember so clearly watching him in that first round against Ernests Gulbis because I had to play the winner. The scenes when he won were wild - he was running around the court, high-fiving the crowd and soaking up what we thought was the start of an incredible career.

At the time, he and Nick Kyrgios were being touted as Australia’s next big stars. There was a lot of hype around them. They were superstars in the making. Thanasi had the world at his feet. He was a scary talent.

Tuesday's win was very emotional for Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Then the injuries hit. He always had little niggles – we all did when we were young, it’s part of the deal – but what he has endured is on another level.

Glandular fever was bad luck for him but the agony of injury is so tough and it’s a silent struggle. No one, unless you’re the top superstars in the world, pays much attention to you when you’re injured. You’re forgotten about.

Fans generally ride the euphoric wave of success with winners but it’s rare for many to see the behind the scenes struggle as injury devastates you.

It’s not just fitness and match play. It’s sponsors walking away, not knowing if you will have money coming in, wondering if this career you thought would go on for years is over and what you could possibly do next. It’s frightening.

There was renewed hope for Thanasi’s superstardom when, in 2018, against all odds, he beat Roger Federer at the Miami Open. It was a huge moment and he enjoyed some regular play that year.

But hope was soon soured by another injury hit. That’s the brutality of this sport.

It chews you up and spits you out.

Kokkinakis last won a game at the Australian Open in 2015.

Thanasi has had it all ripped away from him on multiple occasions. Only he and his team know the reality of how tough life has been, but the tears we saw on court on Tuesday to me show how grateful he is to be back and how passionate he is about the game.

It also showed how much he has matured.

Six years ago I don’t think he would have appreciated it – and that’s not a slight. I think it happens to all young players that enjoy early success - you win money, you’re in demand and with that comes an understandable level of entitlement. You think success is going to be there forever.

You need that level of arrogance and self-importance to be brilliant at a young age when the world is watching. It comes with the territory.

I was the same, I was convinced it was always going to be that way. You never think about things ending.

Thanasi is different now. That’s not to say he was bad as a kid, he’s never been anything like Bernard Tomic in his demeanour, but he’s mischievous, like Nick.

Kokkinakis pulled off a huge upset of Roger Federer at the 2018 Miami Open.

He’s a good guy and well liked on tour - that was evident in the reaction to his win.

I don’t imagine Roger Federer messages many players that win a first round match.

His story transcends Aussie sport, too. NBA star Joe Ingles reached out to him. It shows how highly thought of Thanasi is and that he hasn’t been forgotten. That’s rare.

The fact he is still here is a testament to his character. Imagine how much determination you need to push on for so many years living in constant fear your body might break down.

He will wake up every day wondering if the curse is back.

But today he has to forget that.

Today he has to push his mind to control his body and appreciate the moment he has. He needs to spend the first minute on looking around, taking it all in so he’s not overawed.

Then it’s put your bag down, dial in and game time

Originally published as Sam Groth: Thanasi Kokkinakis finally back in swing of things after wild injury ride