Special Ks under the spotlight for another hitout

Thanasi Kokkinakis says he and Nick Kyrgios are set to light up Melbourne Park once again.

Thanasi Kokkinakis is feeling the benefits of new sponsors and looking forward to the Australian Open in Melbourne next month.

Fresh off being voted tennis’s favourite doubles team, the Special Ks combination of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are set to light up Melbourne Park again next month.

“We will be playing, it’s not something we have spoken about yet but the entry deadline is soon,” Kokkinakis says of the Australian Open.

“I think it’d be rude if we didn’t. (The fans) lapped it up last year.

“(But) singles are a priority for us and we would see the doubles as a bonus.”

Last January Kokkinakis, 26, and Kyrgios, 27, were the first Australians to claim the Australian Open men’s doubles title since the “Woodies” – Todd Woodridge and Mark Woodforde – in 1997, and last week they were voted “Fans’ Favourite doubles team” in the 2022 ATP Awards.

Kokkinakis has gone from having no sponsors three years ago to snaring two major backers: workplace operations company SafetyCulture and apparel label Cotton On.

SafetyCulture chief Luke Anear, whose support has provided Kokkinakis with a mindset coach and strength and conditioning specialist – said he had decided to sponsor Kokkinakis during the first round of the Australian Open in 2021.

“I had just woken up and I saw a press conference where he was asked a question in regards to why he had a plain black T-shirt on … he said that’s all I can afford,” Mr Anear said.

“Once I heard him answer that question (I thought) this is a great Australian underdog story. Thanasi has been injured as a young player but he has an incredible talent and I think everyone deserves a second chance.”

An initial $25,000 sponsorship left officials scrambling to get Kokkinakis’ shirts branded in time for the second round. Mr Anear said it is the “gift that keeps on giving” ­because recently he was filmed in the first episode of a Netflix documentary donning the business name.

Kokkinakis said having the support of businesses and brands is a gamechanger for tennis players such as himself.

Kokkinakis and Kyrgios in Melbourne last January. Picture: Getty Images

“I don’t think that’s something people realise. When you’re a tennis player … everything for the most part comes out of your pocket, it doesn’t come from the federation or anything like that,” he said.

“You’ve got to fund your coaches, whether it’s flights, hotel rooms, all that sort of stuff. And the more experienced your coach or fitness trainer the more expensive (they will be).

“(They are) trying to get the best team around me (so I can) reach the heights of my career and do as well as I can.”

Kokkinakis, who is ranked 95 in the world and won his first singles title at the Adelaide International in January, said that despite a short off-season his training for the start of the same tournament on January 9 followed by the Australian Open on January 23 was going well.

“I feel good. The next two weeks is going to be important. I’m healthy, I’ve had no injuries in a little while,” he said.

Asked what he hoped to achieve at Melbourne Park this year, Kokkinakis said he was trying to do as well as he can.

“I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself. I had a great summer last year, obviously I won the first title in Adelaide. If I could do anything remotely close to that I'll be a happy man,” he said.