Thanasi Kokkinakis has revealed he’ll almost certainly have to undergo surgery on a debilitating pectoral injury which dashed his hopes of repeating his stunning Australian Open doubles success with Nick Kyrgios.
And soon after their early exit from the tournament, Kyrgios – who had previously warned fans he might never play singles at his home grand slam again – also foreshadowed quitting the tournament altogether.
The 29-year-old left a series of posts about the match on Instagram, with the last one reading, ‘Was possibly my last time out there tonight thankyou Kokki.’
Kyrgios also wrote, ‘My brother that was special. @the_kokk1 we really did everything in our power to even take the court – the crowd and the energy was UNMATCHED. I can’t believe I was here AGAIN after my surgery. Wish you nothing but more health kokki.’
Kokkinakis defied doctors’ orders to rekindle his partnership with Kyrgios – which produced a memorable Open title three years ago – at a packed John Cain Arena on Thursday night.
But the 28-year-old was clearly hampered and lasted little more than an hour before pulling the pin, with the ‘Special Ks’ trailing fellow Australians James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic 7-5 3-2.
Great mates Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis’s doubles campaign turned into an injury-riddled disaster at the Australian Open on Thursday night
The Aussies were forced to pull the pin on their clash with countrymen James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic in the second set, with Kokkinakis in agony due to a serious injury
Kyrgios made a series of posts on social media after the withdrawal (pictured) and foreshadowed never playing at his home grand slam again
The disappointing scenario came 24 hours after Kokkinakis battled through the injury in an epic five-set singles defeat to Jack Draper.
‘The doctor advised me not to play and I’m going to need to do a serious procedure now, probably,’ a shattered Kokkinakis told reporters after the doubles loss.
‘I’ve got to speak to as many experts as I can, but I can’t serve, I can’t hit a high forehand and I’m in a lot of pain.
‘I wanted to come out here – I know there was a lot of talk about us playing again – I wanted to see if I was somewhat competitive, even without a serve.
‘I just wanted to get on court again with the big fella.
‘Such great memories and we had a big crowd, we knew, waiting for us.
‘Any other event, any other circumstance, I’m not stepping foot on court, for sure.’
Kokkinakis’s booming serve was drastically reduced as he toiled alongside Kyrgios, who was also battling an abdominal injury that initially threatened to prevent him playing this week.
Kokkinakis said he defied a doctor’s orders to take to the court – and is now in need of ‘serious’ surgery after battling through despite being severely hamstrung
The South Australian said he was ‘broken’ before he even took to the court – with Kyrgios referring to their struggles after the match (pictured)
There was a sense of inevitability about the injury getting the better of Kokkinakis, especially after they had dropped the first set.
‘I knew it was going to happen,’ Kokkinakis said.
‘I was broken yesterday, I was serving restricted yesterday. It was tough.
‘I knew coming into the event I was just going to leave everything out there.
‘It wasn’t just my serve, it was my forehand, I was feeling pain.
‘My arm’s essentially cooked. I need to fix it. It’s going to take some time.’
Kyrgios, who is no certainty to play at his home grand slam again, thanked Kokkinakis for having a crack and giving him another chance to perform on his favourite court.
The 29-year-old, who has battled injuries for most of the last two years, has flagged 2025 as his final season on the singles tour.
As for doubles, he and Kokkinakis have no concrete plans but have left the door open.
‘I think on full potential and full health, we could do some damage in the doubles always,’ Kyrgios said.
‘I felt like the crowd tonight was ready to erupt from the get-go.
‘For me, obviously this year I’ve been out for two years, so I don’t know what this year’s going to bring.
‘I’m going to trust the process. I think I’m hitting the ball great. I’ve still got a long way to get back to that same level I was in 2022.’
Duckworth and Vukic will meet another Australian pair, wildcards Luke Saville and Li Tu, in the second round of the doubles.
Vukic no doubt enjoyed his earlier-than-expected bedtime ahead of Friday’s third-round singles meeting with 15th-seeded Englishman Draper.
