- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Thanasi Kokkinakis is struggling to digest the most painful defeat of his burgeoning career after severe cramps cruelled his US Open campaign in New York.
The Australian teenage ace threatened to pull off a major upset before having to retire early in the fifth set of his first-round clash with Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet on Tuesday.
Kokkinakis winced in pain as he was treated courtside and could barely move as brutally hot conditions claimed a raft of players at Flushing Meadows.
The 19-year-old gallantly tried to play on even after being reduced to under-arm serving before finally calling it quits after falling behind 2-0 in the deciding set and having the chair umpire advise him to consider his health.
After looking to the heavens and despairingly telling the tennis gods “it’s absolute torture”, Kokkinakis smashed his racquet into the net before staggering to the net to shake Gasquet’s hand.
Kokkinakis struggles with cramp before retiring:
WATCH: Thanasi Kokkinakis serves underarm due to injury then smashes his racquet as he retires http://t.co/L5JL4LVzmj pic.twitter.com/Cd8cleKODl
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) September 1, 2015
“I’m pretty shattered,” he said after his 4-6 6-1 4-6 6-3 2-0 demise.
“It’s just frustrating ’cause I started playing good tennis. I was getting fired up.
“At one-all, 30-love in the fourth set, I was bouncing the ball. Then immediately I started to feel my forearm go. I’m like: `Oh, no, this is bad.’
“I didn’t feel tired physically either, which is the most frustrating thing about it. I actually felt all right.
“My energy levels were good, and then I went up to hit a swing and volley or something, and both my calves – it was just disaster.”
Kokkinakis has battled through several tough five-setters already in his career, but hadn’t suffered cramps since his first grand slam match as a 17-year-old.
“But I was starting to feel fatigued there,” he said.
“Like my whole body, I was starting to feel tired.
“This one, my body felt fine. Yeah, I was trying to push through. I hit the odd slap winner there, but I couldn’t sustain that and with a player like him, if you’re not 100 per cent, he’s going to move you around.
“I was dust.”
Kokkinakis plans to undergo tests to ensure he never succumbs to cramps again “because there’s nothing more frustrating”.
“I was playing good tennis. Would have been one of the biggest wins of my career,” he said.
“I’m pissed off more than anything.”
Kokkinakis will now turn his attention to Australia’s Davis Cup semi-final against Great Britain in Glasgow the week after the Open after he and Nick Kyrgios missed a place in the men’s doubles draw at Flushing Meadows.
“We missed the entry deadline,” Kokkinakis said.
“Everyone was saying we were in, but I knew myself we weren’t.”
Kokkinakis was anything but the only casualty in the punishing conditions, with 11 players failing to complete their first-round matches.
-AAP
Will Thanasi Kokkinakis be able to cause a first-round upset with a win over 12th seed Richard Gasquet? Join The Roar for live scores from around 2.30am (AEST) following the completion of Varvara Lepchenko and Kirsten Flipkins.
Kokkinakis has not been dealt an easy draw with a tough opening matchup.
The 19-year-old South Australian must keep fighting until the end to ensure that he gets every chance possible. If he is able to stay calm and composed, Thanasi may be in with a chance at defeating Gasquet but must remain level-headed and defend his line.
Richard Gasquet will be tested by Kokkinakis but should not be pushed around. The Frenchman must not get too carried away and focus on playing the right shots, one wrong move could prove the difference between salvation and embarrassment. Just as he did against Nick Kyrgios this year, he has the weapons to beat Kokkinakis, but he can’t allow the young Australian into the game.
Kokkinakis and Gasquet have played each other once, with Gasquet winning at the 2015 Cincinnati Masters in straight sets 7-6, 6-2.
Kokkinakis has a win-loss record of 4-6 in his last ten matches and is coming off a loss to Teymuraz Gabashvili in three sets 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. Gasquet was defeated by third seed Andy Murray in three sets 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in his preparation, and boasts a win-loss record of 7-3 in his last ten matches.
They are both in good form, but Gasquet is a quality player in plenty enough form to put Kokkinakis away in this one.
You would think the 12th seed has more than enough in his arsenal to get the job done.
Prediction
Richard Gasquet will be too strong for Kokkinakis.
Gasquet in four sets.
Join The Roar for live scores from around 2.30am (AEST) following the completion of Varvara Lepchenko and Kirsten Flipkens.
Feel free to follow the live scores, and drop a comment in the box below if you’re watching the match.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.