Australian Open 2023: All the news and results from the Aussie contingent

Thanasi Kokkinakis has distanced himself from tanking claims after opponent Fabio Fognini ensured their first round match came to a farcical end.

Thanasi Kokkinakis said he couldn’t care less if his opponent really threw in the towel after he won a farcical Australian Open match against Italian Fabio Fognini on Wednesday.

Needing just five more points to clinch victory after their match got halted for nearly 24 hours because of Melbourne’s lousy weather, Kokkinakis completed what he started the day before to seal a 6-1 6-2 6-2 win.

But it was the lacklustre performance of Fognini - who was once ranked as high as seventh in the world - that had some observers wondering how hard he was competing.

The Italian won just one more point before the lopsided contest ended, leaving Kokkinakis in the dark about how hard his opponent had tried.

“I’ve played him three times now, and I’m 3-0. Unless he has tanked every time,” he said.

“I’m playing good. I served well. I felt like I really didn’t give him any chances.

“I don’t know what he is feeling or how he is doing it, but he has been top-10. Who knows?

“A lot of guys like that sort of come in and out. If you look at some of the break points, there’s balls that people would be tanking on, wouldn’t run out and try to hustle them back.

“I don’t really care, to be honest, whether people think he tanked or not. I’m through to the second round. That’s all that matters.”

Thanasi Kokkinakis wouldn’t be drawn on tanking talk. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

Kokkinakis will now play Britain’s former world No.1 Andy Murray in the second round.

The pair are old mates.

When the Australian first joined the professional tour, he thought Murray was a sourpuss but they quickly struck up a friendship when the Scotsman began contacting him to offer support.

“Andy is someone I respect a great amount. Obviously he has been at the top of the game, and he can relate a little bit with the injury side of things. I missed a fair few years, and so has he, especially recently,” Kokkinakis said.

“He was someone when I came onto tour that was always willing to give some advice when he thought. I practised with him a fair bit, I played doubles with him at Indian Wells, so we have a fairly good relationship.

“We get along really well. I actually really like him off the court. I remember watching him when I was younger thinking this dude looks moody as hell, he looks miserable. Then when you get to know him, he is actually a ripper bloke and a good guy.”

Fabio Fognini. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty

Murray has already defied the odds just to reach the second round after a gripping five-set win over Italian Matteo Berrettini but questions about his fitness remain.

The 35-year-old has a metal hip from a career-saving surgery he underwent a few years back that sets off alarms when goes through airport security but Kokkinankis said it only made his rival stronger.

“Whether he had a metal hip or not, I don‘t think you needed to question his character. What he’s done in the sport, his resilience, how he plays and how he gets after matches and his effort and dedication to the sport speaks highly of him,” Kokkinakis said.

“I wish I had metal body parts. They might have held up a little bit better. Who knows. Everyone has their own thing to deal with. I definitely wouldn‘t say my physique is A1 all the time. I feel if there’s anyone that can relate to injuries, it’s Andy. I don’t think he’s the only one battling a few things.”

Kokkinakis also said he had no bad feelings about missing the chance to defend the doubles title she won last year with Nick Kyrgios after his good mate withdrew with an injury.

“Obviously it‘s disappointing but Nick’s got to do what’s best for him,” Kokkinakis said.

“We had a magical run last year and that‘s something we’ll never forget so hopefully we can run it back again next year but for him, he’s a good mate first and foremost so health comes first and hopefully he gets back up and running.”

AUSSIE FIGHTER KO’D IN SECOND ROUND

Daniil Medvedev had never played Aussie John Millman but he knew all about his giant-killer reputation.

After his first round victory the Russian made mention of Millman’s win over the great Roger Federer at the US Open in 2018.

As a result he was on high alert on Margaret Court Arena for any sort of ambush from the local hero.

After some anxious moments during an epic first set, the No.7 seed showed his class to outlast the local journeyman 7-5 6-2 6-2 in just over two-and-a-quarter hours.

“I think it was a great match,” Medvedev said. “The score in the second and third sets doesn’t reflect what happened on court.

“In the first set he managed to break me three times and that doesn’t happen that often. I was not happy with myself but he played amazing.”

Medvedev revealed there was a moment during the 63-minute opening stanza where he was concerned about whether he’d have the legs to go with the Australian.

John Millman was no match for Daniil Medvedev. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty

“Physically for both of us it was tough,” he said. “There was a time in the first set where I was like, ‘How am I going to handle this?’.

“It was not easy but I was going for too much sometimes so I decided to go slower after that and was like, ‘OK John if you want to beat me we’re going to play 40-shot rallies’.”

While Millman is highly regarded for his fitness and determination, he had no answers for the ruthless Russian.

And as the match ventured into the second and third sets, it was Millman who began to noticeable tire which played into the hands of last year’s runner-up.

But as is often the case in Millman matches, he refused to lie down.

Even when he was down 1-5 with multiple match points against him on his serve, the 33-year-old found something, getting the fans to their feet as he kept the match alive, albeit for only a few more minutes.

Medvedev, 26, is bidding to become only the fourth man in the Open era to reach three consecutive Australian Open finals joining Novak Djokovic who has done it twice, Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl.