Tennis: Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis come from behind to win at ATP finals

Nick Kyrgios did a bit of everything, including throwing his racquet, in a stirring doubles win in Italy.

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios are still alive. Picture: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis could yet be crowned season-ending doubles kings after a stunning second-up win at the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin.

The “Special Ks” were on the brink of defeat in their must-win encounter before Kyrgios lifted his partner on his shoulder and carried them to an epic 10-6 win in the deciding tie-break after winning the second set.

Having lost their opening match, Kokkinakis was struggling second-up and the pair looked doomed to bow out of the competition at 5-1 down in the deciding match tie-break.

But Kyrgios would not be denied, as the Wimbledon runner-up provided some magic to propel them back into the contest and then eventually beat Croatian Ivan Dodig and American Austin Krajicek.

“I had to take it away from tennis because we were getting outplayed – and then the energy just got us over the line,” Kyrgios said after the win.

“The crowd was amazing – they got us over the line, honestly. I don‘t think the other pair really had any idea what was going on.”

Nick Kyrgios produced a bit of everything, including a tantrum. Picture: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Kyrgios was emotional throughout, throwing his racquet at one stage before producing the sort of shots that send shivers around the rest of the players on tour on the way to winning 3-6 6-4 (10-6).

Kokkinakis admitted he was “trying not to laugh half the time” as he watched his partner in full flight both during and after points.

“I see him just going towards the crowd and it‘s like a soccer crowd, felt like a Serie A rivalry – but it was funny, man, it’s good energy, it lifted me and I played my best tennis after he started doing that as well,” he said.

After the Special Ks lost their first match to No.1 pair Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, defeat would have guaranteed their exit, but now the Australian Open champs still have the chance to end the year in triumph against the best pairs in world tennis.

They will, however, most likely have to beat unbeaten Croatians Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic in straight sets to earn their place in the semi-finals.