Thanasi Kokkinakis admits he’s in a bizarre place as he contemplates opening his Australian Open marketing campaign in opposition to Italian veteran Fabio Fognini whereas his stirring Adelaide International title defence rolls on.
Kokkinakis learnt that he’ll start his house grand slam in opposition to the world No.57 simply hours earlier than he produced one other crowd-pleasing effort to dispatch Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in three units at Memorial Drive on Thursday night time.
The spectacular win, which included 59 winners, arrange a semi-final assembly with world No.26 Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday night time.
But Kokkinakis additionally is aware of the affect of his Adelaide International final 12 months hit him laborious in a first-round loss at Melbourne Park.
“It‘s weird, mentally, knowing you have another player you’re thinking about next week, but you’re already in a tournament this week and you’ve got to worry about Bautista Agut,” Kokkinakis mentioned after his three-set win in opposition to Kecmanovic.
“It’s not easy. I have just got to focus on this week and I’ll worry about Fognini next. But he’s a hell of a player and has been at the top of the game as well.
“I’ve played him a couple times on tour and have a good record against him, but I know what his top level is capable of.
“He‘s a vet, his ball striking is very good, especially when he’s locked in, so it’s not going to be easy.”
Kokkinakis has performed the 35-year-old Italian twice on tour, upsetting him when he was a 19-year-old on the Cincinnati Masters in 2015 and prevailing in straight units on clay in Switzerland final 12 months.
The hometown hero, ranked No.110 on this planet, has defeated countryman Alexei Popyrin (ranked 113), Andrey Rublev (6) and Kecmanovic (28) to advance to the semi-final stage.
After holding aloft his maiden ATP Tour title trophy in Adelaide final 12 months, Kokkinakis went on to lose his first-round match on the Australian Open to German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann.
But the proud South Australian, whereas “praying” for a Tuesday begin as a substitute of Monday, is assured issues are totally different this time round.
“This is the best I’ve felt ball striking-wise,” he mentioned.
“Even when I go out for practice, I’m just feeling like I can kind of do what I want, and I haven’t had that feeling in a while.”
