Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis crowned Australian Open champions

They are all Aussies, but these rivals are far from mates. And there’s a reason why the other Australian pairing took issue with the Special Ks.

It’s a dangerous night to be a beer on Chapel St.

It probably will be again on Sunday.

The Special Ks are grand slam champions and as their run to glory gathered steam, they told the Herald Sun a session at notorious nightclub Revolver was in the diary.

“Yeah, we’ll be at Revs until 6am,” Thanasi Kokkinakis grinned.

They might have followed the ultimate Barty Party, but it is Nick Kyrgios and Kokkinakis who know how to tear up a dancefloor.

Far more importantly, it could also be a difficult day to book a tennis court.

The Australian Open champions might have just opened the door to a new generation of tennis players.

How many Aussie kids will reach for a racquet, call a mate and have a hit of doubles today pretending they are the Special Ks?

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrate their win

Russian Daniil Medvedev – who was defeated by Rafael Nadal on Sunday night – grew up in Moscow hitting balls against a brick will and imagining it was Roger Federer or Nadal on the other side.

Well, if the boxes of Kellog’s Special K breakfast cereal waved around in Rod Laver Arena during the men’s doubles final was any indication, it is Kyrgios and Kokkinakis who children will now want to emulate.

Just don’t mirror some of the clowns in the crowd who ruined Max Purcell’s first serve as he and Matt Ebden tried to stay in the slam.

The match was paused as some men were evicted, although Purcell’s pleas for a let were rejected by the chair umpire.

Spectators are removed by security staff

That wouldn’t have left the 23-year-old Sydneysider too happy. In fact, not much did in the build-up.

Let’s make no mistake. Channel Nine’s broadcast had four Australian flags, but these rivals are far from mates.

Ebden and, in particular, Purcell don’t like that the Special Ks hogged almost all of the spotlight in this all-Aussie decider.

Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia is picked up by Nick Kyrgios

It would be a surprise to wake up and discover they’ve been drinking past sunrise together, like Alex Carey and Nathan Lyon did with Ashes rivals Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson before Hobart police intervened.

But youngsters wanting to be like their heroes are more likely to find a red singlet like Kyrgios than grow a mullet like Max.

Those doing so in red better avoid the net.

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis have changed the face of doubles – both on and off the court – revolutionising tactics in just two weeks.

Doubles was supposed to be about placement. Partners charge to the net together and put up a brick wall that is hard to knock down.

Not the Special Ks. These boys hang back at the baseline and smoke forehand winners down the line.

They don’t care where their opponents are standing or if they are in the way.

They’re not afraid to smack the white lines on the tram tracks. Why would they?

These blokes are singles specialists who barely even train together.

Topspin lobs are the other go-to option. They serve big and celebrate even bigger.

Kyrgios had the chutzpah to pull out a trick shot through his legs during the first set … of a grand slam final, not an exhibition match.

It worked. They won the point and won even more fans.

They didn’t face a single break point.

Here’s a scary thought for all the seeds they sent packing … the Special Ks are only getting better.

Nick Kyrgios celebrates the win

Imagine the damage they would do if all their chips were in?

Let’s not get carried away. They won’t play on clay and Wimbledon’s best-of-five sets would be too much physical stress.

Kokkinkakis targeted Matt Ebden in the final and you had to feel for the 34-year-old after the 7-5 6-4 loss.

Forget Novak Djokovic.

The real border force is the one awaiting Ebden, the West Australian who left home believing he could safely return for the birth of his child due on February 14, only to have premier Mark McGowan renege on his border promise.

Ebden’s baby might just grow up in a new era of doubles tennis.

The Ks play spellbinding tennis bursting with X-Factor.

It’s doubles like we’ve never seen before. But are certain to see again.

If I was playing them... they would get under my skin.. and I would actually wanna punch them... 🥰

— Daria Saville (@Daria_gav) January 29, 2022

FOLLOW THE MEN;S DOUBLES FINAL LIVE BELOW

SECOND SET

KYRGIOS/KOKKINAKIS 7-5, 6-4 EBDEN/PURCELL

A wobbly service game from Kokkinakis. Down 0-15 and two aces got them back on track. Crowd getting a telling off from the ump for being too noisy - mate this is nothing compared to what we have had, but then a double fault at a crucial moment to go to deuce.

But the Special K’s prevail!

They are one game away.

KYRGIOS/KOKKINAKIS 7-5, 4-3 EBDEN/PURCELL

Little over an hour into this match, the atmosphere remains really bizarre, crowd nowhere near the raucous “zoo” we have seen in recent days. Kokkinakis service game holding up well this evening and we’re all square on serve.

Another service hold to love for the Specials, Ebden struggling to find anresponse to NK at the moment.

Purcell and Ebden superb at the net, out outclassed by power time and time again.

AND ANOTHER BREAK

FIRST SET - KYRIOGS AND KOKKINAKIS WIN 7-5

KYRGIOS/KOKKINAKIS 7-5 EBDEN/PURCELL

Big pressure on the Kyrgios serve here, taken to deuce but Kokkinakis at the net is all over. It was a slog of a game but the Special Ks escape.

And they carry the momentum, all the pressure this time on ebden’s serve with the M7Ms up against the first break of the match but Purcell SOLID at the net to defend and save.

But it had to break sometime and the Special Ks nudge themselves ahead!

AND THEY TAKE THE FIRST SET!

KYRGIOS/KOKKINAKIS 4-5 EBDEN/PURCELL

Same ticket holders on court for this but man alive has the noise changed. That bloody siiuuu noise is back.

The M&Ms take the first game with ease and it’s a similar story for the Specials in the second.

A bizarre, someonewhat subdued feeling about this between points.

Livening up in the seventh game, the ‘tweener coming out from Nick who, not to sound like a cranky mother, has come on court with chewing gum in his mouth and it’s revolting what he’s doing with it.

Ebden and Purcell looking more unified at the moment. As Todd Woodbriegd points out, if you go to the net, it’s a case of one in, all in. Kokkinakis is hanging back, it could prove costly.

“When I say almost good, Kokkinakis should have been in (at the net) with Nick, as we talked about, these two boys go together, that builds pressure and the percentage play, Kokkinakis sometimes is not as eager to get in. And that might prove costly by the end of this.”

Australia's Nick Kyrgios hits a return as he plays with Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis

9:40pm ASH IS A CHAMPION

If you’re only just joining us this evening you have just missed Ash Barty making history, becoming the first Australian womsn to win the title in 44 years.

An imperious Barty one was 5-1 down in the second set but came storming back to win on a tiebreak and sweep past the 27th seed 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) to be crowned Australian Open champion.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis crowned Australian Open champions