Thanasi Kokkinakis claims impressive victory over Tomas Berdych to reach first ATP final

AFTER a cruel run of injuries, Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis has given tennis fans reason to be cheerful after reaching his first ATP tour final.

STOKE POGES, ENGLAND — JULY 01: Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia hits a backhand during his match against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina day five of The Boodles Tennis Event at Stoke Park on July 1, 2017 in Stoke Poges, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)

THANASI Kokkinakis’s fine run of form has continued in Mexico with the Australian progressing to his first ATP tournament final with a win over Tomas Berdych in Los Cabos.

Kokkinakis, playing with a protected ranking but nominally rated No. 454 in the world after a string of injuries, downed the Czech top seed in their semi-final, 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

He’ll take on Sam Querrey in the final after the American downed Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the later game 3-6 6-46-4.

Kokkinakis sustained the only break of the opening set against Berdych but served consistently in the second to level the match after victory in the tiebreak.

He picked up two breaks of serve to former Wimbledon finalist Berdych’s one in the decider to claim the match.

After a torrid two years in which he contemplated giving the game away, Kokkinakis returned in 2017 and impressed with a win over Milos Raonic at Queen’s Club while pushing former US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro at Wimbledon.

While Los Cabos is a low key tournament on the tour with Berdych the top seed at No. 14 in the world, it still represents a big opportunity for Kokkinakis. The 21 year-old would shoot up almost 300 ranking places with a win over the in- form Querrey.

The American has a win on tour against Kokkinakis dating back to 2015, where he was victorious in three tight sets on clay at Madrid.

Originally published as Thanasi Kokkinakis claims impressive victory over Tomas Berdych to reach first ATP final