Thanasi Kokkinakis keeps building for Australian Open with big win over Gael Monfils

THANASI Kokkinakis’ Australian Open preparation continues to gain momentum with the South Australian adding another big-name notch to his belt.

Thanasi Kokkinakis in action against Gael Monfils. Pic: Getty Images

THANASI Kokkinakis’ summer is building towards his most promising Australian Open tilt as he collected another world-renowned scalp at his home court at Memorial Drive in the World Tennis Challenge last night.

Fresh from beating top-tenner Alexander Zverev at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Kokkinakis beat French superstar and dual Grand Slam finalist Gael Monfils in the Adelaide exhibition event in the headline act of the opening day.

There were times when Monfils, a former top-10 player, was mucking around and the pair of them treated the match lightly, but Kokkinkis’ 3-6, 6-2, 10-8 (super tiebreak) win also included some of the sharpest tennis you can see in the lead up to a slam.

Thanasi Kokkinakis rues a missed opportunity. Pic: Getty Images

Gael Monfils acknowledges the Memorial Drive crowd. Pic: Getty Images

In the super tie-break, the intensity was that of a tour match and the accuracy as sharp as only the best in the world can produce.

Kokkinakis and Monfils blended exhilarating pace with daring angles and even the misses could be admired — they were rarely made by more than centimetres.

Kokkinakis was understandably relieved after overcoming a few nervous moments in the super tie-break: he had led by 5-0 only to see his lead evaporate before he composed himself again.

“I thought the super tie-break had some really high quality tennis,” Kokkinakis said. “I thinkI’ve showed a few people I can still play and it’s been good to prove a few people wrong.”

Originally published as Thanasi Kokkinakis keeps building for Australian Open with big win over Gael Monfils