‘Utmost faith’: Why Kokkinakis believes Australia can win Davis Cup

Tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis says there is no reason why Australia cannot win the Davis Cup finals in November to redeem its loss in last year’s decider.

And the Australian Open doubles champion has revealed his great mate Nick Kyrgios is on the comeback trail, with plans to be fully fit for the start of the international summer at home.

Thanasi Kokkinakis back in Australia on Wednesday after a successful Davis Cup outing in Manchester.Credit: Darrian Traynor

Kokkinakis, fresh from returning from Manchester where he helped Australia surge into the final eight of the Davis Cup, was in Melbourne on Wednesday, helping to promote the first-ever National Hockey League games in the southern hemisphere. The matches between the Arizona Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings will be played at Rod Laver Arena this weekend.

The robust right-hander was still buoyant after Australia’s win over the Swiss last weekend, with Lleyton Hewitt’s side now drawn to face Czechia in the quarter-finals of the knockout phase in the Spanish city of Malaga.

Czechia may not be a glamour tennis nation, but – led by world No.30 and 2022 Australian Open quarter-finalist Jiri Lehecka – it was the only team to emerge from the group stages with an unbeaten record in nine games.

The winner will book a semi-final against either defending champions Canada or Finland, the latter fresh from surprise wins over the USA and Croatia.

Kokkinakis said the Australians had a burning desire to make amends for last year’s loss to Canada in the final.

“We have a lot of really good depth. We have a really strong doubles team as well. We feel like if we are one-all going into the deciding rubber. I think we have a really good chance as well. We have the utmost faith in each other, and not many egos on the team, which is good,” Kokkinakis said.

Alex de Minaur, Kokkinakis and the doubles pairing of Matt Ebden and Max Purcell secured a place in the top eight by sweeping the Swiss 3-0.

The decision by Hewitt to keep faith in Kokkinakis paid off when the South Australian defeated Dominic Stricker 6-3, 7-5 in the opening rubber against the Swiss.

Thanasi Kokkinakis was pleased to reward the faith shown in him in Manchester by Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.Credit: Getty

Kokkinakis was under immense pressure after an earlier loss against Jack Draper, as Australia lost to Great Britain. But Hewett backed Kokkinakis, and the world No.74 responded in style, snapping a run of three-consecutive Davis Cup defeats.

“I am happy they had faith in me, putting me out there. I had no idea [whether I was going to play]. I had been practising really well throughout the week, but there were a couple of guys who are higher ranked than me,” Kokkinakis said.

“It showed that Lleyton had a lot of faith in me. You are never sure, but they kind of let me know early [and] they backed me as a singles option.”

If Australia manages to lift the title in Spain, it would be its first Davis Cup win since Hewitt led them to victory as a player 20 years ago.

Kokkinakis, now preparing to head to Shanghai, has beaten Lehecka this year.

“Davis Cup, it’s a three-match comp, it doesn’t take much – there can be a lot of upsets. It’s going to be a challenge, but I think we like our chances,” Kokkinakis said.

Drew Doughty of the LA Kings meets up with Thanasi Kokkinakis ahead of the NHL Global series to be played at Rod Laver Arena this weekend.Credit: Darrian Traynor

Kokkinakis will catch up with his close friend Kyrgios in Sydney on Thursday, the latter having not played a major tournament this year because of multiple injuries.

Kyrgios has only played one competitive singles match since his withdrawal from the Japan Open due to a knee injury in October 2022. He pulled out of the Australian Open because of a knee issue and underwent surgery. He returned for one match in Stuttgart in June, but then withdrew from Wimbledon with a wrist injury.

But Kokkinakis revealed the man he won the Australian Open doubles title with in 2022 was on the mend.

“I think he has started to do some fitness stuff, so we’ll see. I am hoping to team up with him again next year in Australia. I think he’ll probably start in Australia … I think that’s what he will save himself for,” Kokkinakis said.

“I think he is doing all right. He has improved a lot in the last week or so. Hopefully, we can get this place rocking again.”

Kyrgios’ knee issues meant he and Kokkinakis could not defend their doubles crown at the Open this year.

“It’s his first really serious injury he has had in career. I have had four or five years of what he has had. I know it’s not easy. I am sure later in his career it is an adjustment period; not being able to play the tournaments he wants, but if he is in the right headspace mentally, he will get back,” Kokkinakis said.

Kokkinakis had a light hit with star Kings defenceman Drew Doughty at Kia Arena, joking he was glad he was on a court, not the ice.

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