‘Everyone loved it last time’: Special Ks to rekindle partnership at Australian Open

Thanasi Kokkinakis will reprise his Australian Open-winning doubles partnership with Nick Kyrgios at Melbourne Park next month after achieving a personal career first in 2024.

The “Special Ks” won the doubles final in unlikely fashion at the 2022 Australian Open, upsetting a raft of doubles specialists with an exuberant and brash style of tennis that had the stands rocking.

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios were a huge hit as doubles partners at the 2022 Australian Open.Credit: Getty Images

Kyrgios made the Wimbledon singles final not even six months later, but has barely played since because of serious knee and wrist setbacks.

Kokkinakis’ great mate will make his long-awaited return in Brisbane this month before contesting his first grand slam since reaching the 2022 US Open quarter-finals.

“Everyone loved it last time. We loved it [too] – it was so much fun,” Kokkinakis said.

“It’s definitely not going to be the priority for us [but] we feel like we owe it to people to get back out there and have some fun. It’s not something we’ve practised. I think I’ve played maybe three doubles matches, it feels like, since I played with him ...

“It’s going to be great for tennis, great for fans in Australia, and fans all over the world [to have Kyrgios back]. He’s a different cat. Obviously, he has a different sort of energy about him, and he’s a hell of a player.”

Kokkinakis, who just returned from playing the Ultimate Tennis Showdown event in London, joked that the doubles title was one of the “coolest” moments in his life, but also one of the worst because it meant he was perennially asked about Kyrgios.

That has been a theme since they faced off in the 2013 Australian Open boys’ final.

Kokkinakis has not enjoyed the same success as Kyrgios, in part because of a horror injury run – but has been largely healthy since hiring Jona Segal as his strength and conditioning coach ahead of the 2021 Australian Open.

Kokkinakis celebrates his Davis Cup quarter-final victory over American Ben Shelton last month.Credit: Getty Images for ITF

Another roadblock was the 28-year-old’s love-hate relationship with the sport, predominantly the travelling circus that means spending most of every year away from home.

However, the world No.77 spent nine months consecutively overseas for the first time this past season, coinciding with him winning at least one match at every grand slam – a feat he had never managed before.

Kokkinakis’ scalps in 2024 included Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Arthur Fils, Alexei Popyrin, Gael Monfils, Jack Draper and Ben Shelton, whom he won an epic encounter against to steer Australia into the Davis Cup semi-finals last month.

“I’ve had a higher ranking than where I finished up, but I feel as far as consistent big wins and my tennis level, it’s as good as I’ve been,” he said.

“I’m going to use it as a springboard for this year coming up. I feel like my tennis is right there with the top guys, and I’m really knocking on the door. I’ve just got to keep working hard, and not take my foot off the gas.”

It was not even 12 months ago that Kokkinakis was unable to muster an answer to how he would fix his motivation struggles away from Australia.

“No idea. I’m 27 now, and I wish I would have figured it out by now,” he said at the time.

Somewhere in between then and now, Kokkinakis came up with a solution. Part of it was playing primarily on the ATP Tour and only sparingly on the secondary Challenger circuit.

Kokkinakis upset Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas at this year’s US Open.Credit: Getty Images

“It was just trying to figure out which places I like playing, where I’m going to be happier off the court to give myself the best chance to play,” he said.

“I feel like my level’s there with the best, so I think trying to compete against the better guys and play those top-level tournaments [was my priority].”

Kokkinakis is one of nine Australian men ranked inside the top 100 but has never been higher than No.65.

His next goal is to break into the top 50, then join Alex de Minaur, Popyrin and Jordan Thompson in the top 30. Kyrgios also has a protected ranking of No.21.

“Top 50 is the next push for me, and I don’t need to stop there. I think I can keep going, but that’s obviously the short-term goal,” Kokkinakis said.

“What Demon’s been able to do this year [is impressive], making Turin for the first time, especially after his injuries. ‘Pop’ coming out of nowhere, almost, and winning that Masters is a crazy result, and just the depth we have and the strength in numbers, we’re obviously doing something right.

“The last few years, we’ve been knocking on the door for a Davis Cup title, which we’re going to keep pushing for. I think tennis in Australia is definitely strong.”

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