Thanasi Kokkinakis experienced a heartbreaking Australian Open loss to Andy Murray twoyears agoat 4:06 am. The home favorite faced another Briton at his home Major on Wednesday night, leavingJohn Cain Arena empty-handed despite giving everything.
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Kokkinakis battled against Jack Draper in the second round and fell 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in four hours and 35 minutes. Thanasi led 5-3 in the fourth set and served for the win at 5-4. However, he suffered a break at love, keepinghis rival in contention.
The better-ranked player took charge, stole the rival's serve again in the closing stages and grabbed a decider to seal the deal just before midnight. Kokkinakis battled against his rival and apectoral injury. He gave 120% in front of the partisan crowd but lost the ground in the pivotal moments.
Physically and mentally destroyed, Thanasi questioned his tennis future after so many injuries and setbacks, with "steam coming out of his ears right after the duel."
Two rivals threw everything at each other, embracing booming serves and aggressive groundstrokes. Draper kept his second serve safe while Kokkinakis struggled and claimed 19 of 49 points. The Aussie landed 69 winners and 68 unforced errors.
The Briton tamed his strokes superbly, firing 65 winners and 30 unforced errors and outplaying his rival. Nothing separated them in the shortest and most advanced exchanges. Jack took charge in the mid-range ones, winning 15 points more in that segment.
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Thanasi fired a forehand down the line winner in the fourth game and earned a break chance. Draper saved it and avoided an early setback. They reached a tie break and served well in the first five points. The Briton hit a double fault in the sixth point and fell 4-2 behind.
The Aussie cracked a forehand winner for 5-3,earningthree set points with a forced error. Thanasi converted the first with a forehand crosscourt winner, building the advantage after 54 minutes. Jack secured a break in the second game of the second set.
He saved a break point in the next one and moved 3-0 up. The Aussie landed a backhand down the line winner in the fifth game, pulling the break back and holding in the next one for 3-3. Draper stayed focused and played well in the closing stages.
The better-ranked player secured a break in the eighth game after the rival's volley error at the net. Jack served for the set at 5-3 and welcomed the rival's forehand error, locking the overall result at 1-1 after an hour and 42 minutes.
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Kokkinakis survived deuces in the third game of the third set and faced the ultimate challenge at 3-3. The home favorite denied two break points and brought the game home after nearly ten deuces to remain on the positive side.
Thanasi used that boost and forced Draper's mistake in game eight for a break and the advantage. Kokkinakis landed an ace in the ninth game, clinching the set 6-3 and moving closer to the finish line after two hours and 37 minutes.
Carried by this boost, the Aussie claimed an entertaining point in the third game of the fourth set and moved in front. Thanasi served well and held after a deuce in game eight for 5-3. He served for the win at 5-4 and lost his focus.
Jack secured a break at love, surviving and locking the result at 5-5. The Briton saved a break point in the 11th game and drew the rival's mistake for 6-5. Kokkinakis served to stay in the set in game 12 and experienced another setback.
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Thanasi sprayed a forehand error, losing serve for the second straight time and allowing his rival to force a decider after three hours and 46 minutes. They stayed neck and neck in the opening seven games of the final set, extending the excitement.
Kokkinakis cracked under pressure at 3-4. He netted a volley and got broken, propelling Draper 5-3 in front. The 15th seed fired a forehand winner, holding at love and moving into the third round.
