Say it isn’t so – Thanasi Kokkinakis injury curse strikes again in harrowing scenes at All England Club

‘This is the best I’ve felt in a long, long time,’ Thanasi Kokkinakis said at Wimbledon. What happened next will break your heart.

Thanasi Kokkinakis receives medical treatment before retiring injured during his singles second round match against Lucas Pouille. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

And so here’s the cruellest side of a sporting life. It’s not all intermittent London sunshine and lollipops from Bond Street. A bloke like Thanasi Kokkinakis hits a ball as admirably and forcefully as anyone on the planet and yet he’s been cursed by injuries for a decade. Wimbledon is about to break his heart.

In the gloaming on Wednesday, Kokkinakis has saved four match points and played some of the most thunderous tennis of his career to beat 17th-seeded Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime in a five-set thriller. An hour later, we sit down for a chat. Kokk’s crowing. He’s in rude health, form and spirits. If he gets past French veteran Lucas Pouille in round two on Thursday, this animated, engaging character will be elevated to a high-profile, all-Australian clash with Alex de Minaur. I suspect he fancies his chances.

Kokkinakis is talking at a million miles an hour. Eyes are darting. Adrenaline is yet to wear off.

“This is the best I’ve felt in a long, long time,” he says. “When you have the sort of momentum I had today, when you’re hitting the ball cleanly, when your body’s feeling strong, when you sort of feel like you cannot miss, you have to lock that in and go with it for as long as you can. You have to ride the wave because I know by now that nothing can be taken for granted. I think I know that better than anyone. You never know when another challenge might come along. It’s rare that you play matches when you feel unbelievable – but I felt unbelievable today against Felix.”

Wimbledon is Kokkinakis’s 17th tournament of the year. That’s a lot of tennis. He’s having a proper crack. Fingers crossed, he’s finished with one demon, injuries, and moving towards another. De Minaur. When he’s unloaded monster serves and forehands against Auger-Aliassime, I’ve written in my notebook, “How is this bloke not in the top 10?” He’s never even made it past the third round at a major.

So, how are you not in the top 10?

“I’m still learning,” he says. “I’m still trying to work it out. I feel like I’m not far away. There’s obviously been a few hurdles with my body. I just need to stay healthy. I’m training with purpose, training with intensity and effort, and when I get my eye in and find my level, I know my level is good enough. I’ve missed a lot of years and I want to make up for that time. Enjoy these big events, the big moments. Playing at a place like Wimbledon gives me goosebumps.”

Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrates winning against Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime. Picture: Ben Stansall/AFP

Slowly shaking his head, he adds: “I was 19 when I played here for the first time. I was ranked 79. I thought it was a given I’d be here every year. I thought, ‘I’ll make a deep run when I’m older.’ It hasn’t happened – yet.”

On the thrill of winning a five-setter against a player of Auger-Aliassime’s caliber, Kokkinakis says: “It’s happiness. But there’s probably even more the feeling of relief. You spend four hours on a court, you’re battling it out, you’re two sets down but you’ve still got a chance.

“You win and that’s a special feeling. That’s why you play. It’s hard work but you’ve been strong enough mentally to get through. You’re relieved because your body has held up. There’s no time for me to celebrate, though. I’ve got to back it up and play again tomorrow. I’ll enjoy it for the next couple of hours but, by the time I go to bed, I’ll be thinking about the next match. I don’t want it to end here.”

Kokkinakis had the world at his feet in his teens. At 17, he qualified for the Brisbane International and gave Lleyton Hewitt a run for his money. He won a match at the 2015 Australian Open and his ranking shot up to the 80s. Then the injury curse and the rollercoaster began.

Major injuries, minor injuries, to both knees, his right shoulder and a bicep. Recurrences of all. He had thoughts of quitting, of packing up his racquets because his body kept packing it in. His ranking went from the 80s, to the 1000s, to the 90s, to the 200s. He beat Roger Federer but has forever needed physio tables, surgeon’s knives and rehab. He’s emerging from a decade of constant physical ailments and occasional mental health complications. Now he’s ranked 93 and bursting with cheerfulness and hope.

“Sometimes I love tennis, sometimes I hate it,” he grins. “Right now, sitting here after winning a match at Wimbledon, I’m loving it. When I don’t play, I miss it. Then when I’m playing a lot, I don’t always love it so much. The grass is always greener. It’s hard work but I know if I wasn’t giving it my best effort, like I am now, I’d regret it. There’s elements I hate and elements I love … I’ve been through all the highs and lows … and hopefully I’m coming out the other side. I’ve reached a stage where I’m just constantly trying to improve and better myself and test myself against the best players in the world. To have that goal, to see how far I can take this – it’s why I play.”

Thanasi Kokkinakis during his limited play against Lucas Pouille of France. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

He looks and sounds so damn optimistic.

“I’m 28 and I still have time,” he says. “Guys are playing to an older age these days. Guys like Stan (Wawrinka), Novak (Djokovic) and Rafa (Nadal) … we’ll see where my game can get to in the years to come. I’ve just got to make the most of it while I’m healthy. Touch wood, there’s no more injuries to worry about.”

We should have touched some wood. On Thursday against Pouille, Kokkinakis starts like he finished against Auger-Aliassime, belting winners to all corners of Court 8. Kokk’s crowing again, giving thumbs-ups to his entourage, not a worry in the big, wide, beautiful world. Then he goes off the boil. Lets the second set slip. He’s down a break down in the third. He slips and twists his left knee.

He yelps and falls to the court. Say it isn’t so. Another injury. Another broken heart. Pouille runs to check on him, console him. Everyone on tour likes Kokkinakis. They know what he’s been through. He limps to his chair and takes a medical time-out. His knee gets heavily strapped. Kokk’s crying. The butterfly tattoos on his thigh stop flapping their wings.

It ends here. He’s slumped on his seat. He looks so damn sad and unbelieving. No longer is he talking at a million miles an hour. His eyes aren’t darting. The adrenaline’s gone. He takes painkillers and plays two more points. He can barely run. It’s an excruciating sight. somebody say it isn’t so. It is. He shakes Pouille’s hand and retires at 6-2, 5-7, 2-5. Pouille doesn’t know how to act. Before awkwardly departing, he puts a hand on Kokkinakis’ back and whispers solace. What a harrowing scene. To quote Billy Shakespeare, give sorrow words? Kokkinakis has none.