Australian Open: Thanasi Kokkinakis stumbles in Davis Cup audition

The Open serves as a crucial Davis Cup audition for several of his Nick Kyrgios’ compatriots.

Thanasi Kokkinakis in action against Daniil Medvedev yesterday. Picture: AAP.

While Nick Kyrgios is focused firmly on success this Australian Open, the following fortnight serves as a crucial Davis Cup audition for several of his compatriots.

The 17th-ranked Kyrgios will post his best result in a grand slam tournament since 2016 should he defeat Viktor Troicki tonight on Hisense Arena, but has declared his biggest goal this year is success with the national team.

Critical to that success is the strength of the team he leads, given they face a strong German outfit headed by tour wunderkind Alex Zverev in Brisbane on the first weekend of February.

After a stunning start to the season in the Brisbane and Sydney Internationals, teenager Alex de Minaur has thrust himself firmly into contention to make the jump from orange boy to Australia’s next Davis Cup representative. De Minaur’s stellar summer ended last night against former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych.

The Czech star, who is a dual-Australian Open semi-finalist, eventually overwhelmed the teenager to win 6-3 3-6 6-0 6-1 in just over two hours. But the right-handed showed admiral nous to claim the second set, refusing to wilt when challenged by the former world No.4.

Sitting at a ranking of 127, it is certain de Minaur will be part of a broader Davis Cup squad heading for Brisbane.

While doubles specialist John Peers is a certainty if fit, the Australian Open is serving as an ideal audition for a number of players including the incumbent singles options.

Despite the hope associated with the emergence of de Minaur, the return from injury of Thanasi Kokkinakis and the grand slam debut of promising Alexei Popyrin, it is the hardened veterans whose hopes remain alive in Melbourne.

Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who was courtside assessing several players yesterday, at least has depth to call on ahead of the tie to be played on Pat Rafter Arena.

But it seems doubtful the combination of Kyrgios, Peers, John Millman and Jordan Thompson, who fell in Belgium, will all be preferred for Brisbane.

Thompson enjoyed a stellar 2017 representing Australia until beaten in the deciding rubber in Brussels. But the Sydneysider has struggled to produce his best form in a disappointing summer that ended yesterday with a 6-3 6-1 4-6 3-6 6-3 loss to Argentinian Nicolas Kicker.

The 23-year-old looked to have gained the upper hand after a slow start, breaking early in the deciding set before suffering another gut-wrenching loss at major level.

He will drop outside the top 100 for the first time since May 2016 at the completion of the Open.

Kokkinakis, who was a core member of the Australian side until a string of injuries sidelined him for more than a year, was a surprise exclusion just prior to the Davis Cup semi-final.

The South Australian has shown great promise in the four majors he has played since returning to the tour last May.

But he has been unable to clinch a victory in matches against Kei Nishikori in Paris, Juan Martin del Potro at Wimbledon, Janko Tipsarevic in New York or Daniil Medvedev yesterday. The latter, who won the Sydney International last weekend, edged Kokkinakis 6-2 6-7 (6) 7-6 (8) 6-4 yesterday.

Popyrin, who became the first Australian in more than 50 years to win the French Open juniors last year, is a player Hewitt will consider in coming years.

The 18-year-old performed admirably on his debut at major level yesterday despite falling to USA’s Tim Smyczek 6-3 6-7 (14) 6-3 6-3.

Although falling to David Goffin in the Davis Cup semi-final when on debut for Australia last September, Millman was impressive when pressing the 7th-ranked Belgian.

The Queenslander said he loved the best-of-five format used at grand slam level and Davis Cup and is looking forward to whatever opportunities present this fortnight and the future.

“I love best of five set tennis. I feel like it suits me. I can really sink my teeth into a match,” he said. “I feel like guys are in for a tough match because I will never lie down and over five, that is tough.”