Thanasi Kokkinakis hits back at Todd Woodbridge’s remarks at Australian Open

Thanasi Kokkinakis has hit back at a tennis legend for critiquing his decision making ahead of the 2025 Australian Open.

Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis has hit back at Aussie doubles legend Todd Woodbridge for questioning his scheduling decisions ahead of the Australian Open.

Kokkinakis said he was “trying to make a good living” when asked about the commentator’s remarks following his round one win against Roman Safiullin on Monday (3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

This is the sixth time Kokkinakis has made the second round of the men’s singles at the Australian Open. He has never progressed further. He won the Australian Open men’s doubles title alongside Nick Kyrgios in 2022.

He defended his actions with a filthy sledge of his own.

“That’s why he is trying to host every game show under the sun,” Kokkinakis said, taking a dig at Woodbridge.

“We’re trying to make a living as much as he is.”

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Todd Wodbridge. Photo: Channel 9 and Mark Stewart.

Kokkinakis battled a hip injury in Brisbane and last week pulled out of the Adelaide International with a shoulder injury.

Woodbridge had said on Channel 9’s The Morning Serve that some of the injury drama had been self-inflicted by the South Australian’s recent scheduling decisions, including his decision to play an exhibition event in Russia during the 2024-25 off-season when many players were resting their bodies or beginning pre-season training.

“Scheduling is a really interesting thing with him,” Woodbridge said.

“He has to think hard about what he’s going to do to get the best tennis career out of himself. At the back end of the year he’s played Challengers and then he went and played exhibition matches that he didn’t need to do.

“Yes the money’s great and we all love putting that in our pocket and that’s exactly what he did, but that schedule hurts to start the year.”

There were queues of people waiting to get into Kia Arena to see Kokkinakis on Monday. Picture: news.com.au

Kokkinakis said it was a “tricky” thing to balance, and he had missed “a lot of years and a lot of money” when he wasn’t playing due to injuries.

“If I have opportunities that come up, Laver Cup is an incredible opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” the 28-year-old said.

“Obviously, I played a lot of the Davis Cup as well, which no one mentioned. I’m competing for Australia as well.

“And also it’s just tough when people comment when they have no idea about the injury or what sort of tennis I’m playing. I haven’t lost this year. Yes, I picked up something but it has nothing to do with my off-season.”

Kokkinakis has been struggling with injuries. Picture: Mark Stewart

Woodbridge also questioned Kokkinakis’ decision to enter the Adelaide International last week on the brink of the Open.

He was forced to pull out of the tournament with a shoulder injury. Kokkinakis had won the Adelaide International in 2022.

“He needed to get some really big work in, maybe get to Brisbane, play that, he pulled out of Brisbane,” Woodbridge said.

“He always plays well in Adelaide, that’s the home town, he loves it there, but the problem is when you go that hard that early, it wears you out for here.

“Now that’s something that Alex de Minaur has done on a number of occasions over the past five years. He’s learnt to change that schedule, now he’s got the week off prior and that has allowed him over the past 12 months to go deep in all the majors and that is something Thanasi needs to think about.”

Roman Safiullin lost to Thanasi Kokkinakis on Kia Arena in round one of the Australian Open. Picture: Mark Stewart

Kokkinakis survived a serious scare to win his first round match against Safiullin on Monday.

After losing the first set 3-6, Kokkinakis bounced back and was leading 5-2 in the second set when he called for the physio.

The Australian was complaining of an adductor (thigh) strain in his right leg and went off court for further treatment.

He returned to the court and closed out the second set 6-3 to have KIA Arena roaring, but was grimacing and in noticeable discomfort.

But Kokkinakis recovered to close the match out in four sets, winning 3-6 6-3 6-3 7-6. Kokkinakis has now made the second round at the Australian Open six times. He has never progressed further.

– with Matthew Sullivan