The Australian tennis pairing of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkiankis face Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos and Spain’s Marcel Granollers in an Australian Open men’s doubles semi-final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:30pm AEDT.
Nick Kyrgios has been described as the Happy Gilmore of tennis and his on-court antics and passion have stirred fierce debate.
Whatever you think of Kyrgios though you have to admit that he’s put men’s doubles on the map again.
For the first time since the Woodies in this country, the majority of Australians care about doubles and the TV ratings and crowd numbers watching the ‘Special Ks’ show just how they’ve revolutionised the format.
Along the way they’ve ruffled a lot of feathers with reports of a near punch up in the dressing room after Kyrgios-Kokkinakis upset the no.1 seeds and then New Zealand’s Michael Venus called Kyrgios a ‘knob’ following a fiery quarter-final.
No match is boring and expect a huge atmosphere today on Rod Laver Arena with organisers opening the gates to ground pass ticket holders to experience centre court for a fraction of the price they’d usually have to pay.
With reports of severe thunderstorms, it’s more than likely the roof will be closed for this one so expect that noise to be even louder.
The ‘Special Ks’ have already made it past the no.1 seeds, can they get past the no.3 seeds and reach the Australian Open final?
We’ll be riding all the drama here on The Roar.
Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Start Time: approx. 2.40pm (AEDT)
TV/Stream: Channel 9, 9Now, Stan Sport
David Shilovsky
Expert
Who is yelling between the Aussies' first and second serves? I can understand why you'd do it to the opposing pair, but with the partisan crowd in RLA today, I'm surprised that happened to Kyrgios and Kokkinakis.
Jonny G
Guest
*Boomer rage intensifies*
Tony Harper
Editor
Thanks for joining me in the blog. I give the match a 7 out of 10 and as far as the 'Knobometer' rating it was about a 5.
Tony Harper
Editor
"Those two are great doubles players, it's great to see Aussies having success this week," said NK about Ebden and Purcell. "I'm super excited, soaking it all in."
Tony Harper
Editor
Thanasi gives the crowd a huge wrap. It will be VERY interesting to see who the fans get behind in the final. A reminder that the other semi was virtually empty.
danwain
Roar Rookie
It’s great to watch, good luck to all four of them
G Len N
Roar Rookie
C’mon Purcell and Ebden.
Tony Harper
Editor
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis set up an all Australian final winning 7-6, 6-4. Thanasi sealed it with a delicious lob. Apart from that one dropped game when NK seemed to briefly lose the plot, he quickly departed knob world and they roared back to take the spoils.
Tony Harper
Editor
ALL OVER!
Tony Harper
Editor
TWO MATCH POINTS AT 15-40
Tony Harper
Editor
TWO POINTS AWAY FROM VICTORY It's 0-30 on Granollers serve... But now 15-30 as Thanasi plays long
Tony Harper
Editor
Knob watch: The crowd calling out between first and second serves has clearly wound up NK and they're persisting despite the exhortations of the ump.
Tony Harper
Editor
Kyrgios/ Kokkinakis lead 1 set to 0. Second set scores Kyrgios/ Kokkinakis 5 Zeballos/ Granollers 4 There was a big miss from Granollers during that one and NK responded, pulling his emotions into line. A break here and they've done it. Meanwhile officials are checking the automatic let machine that got NK so hot and bothered.
Tony Harper
Editor
AUSSIES WIN! It's not Special K but their potential AO final opponents - Max Purcell and Matt Ebden. The pair have come through an 11-9 TB to win their semi in two sets 6-3, 7-6 on Margaret Court Arena. That's a massive effort against the second seeds Joe Salisbury (UK) and Rajeev Ram (US). If KK wion here it will be the first all Aussie doubles final at the AO since 1980.
Tony Harper
Editor
NK's inner knob just rushed to the surface in that game. He was in so much control before then and it's the first time ion the match the Aussie pair have had their serve broken.
Tony Harper
Editor
Kyrgios/ Kokkinakis lead 1 set to 0. Second set scores Kyrgios/ Kokkinakis 4 Zeballos/ Granollers 3 And the 'away' team is back on serve having broken NK, who has just gone a rant, and destroyed his racquet to suffer a code violation. Knob watch: A few f bombs from Kyrgios and a hand gesture at the crowd, clearly angry after the let machine put him off his game.
Tony Harper
Editor
Knob watch: Here we go. The crowd given a lecture as NK whacks his racquet into a wall, as it's another break point for Z and G.
Tony Harper
Editor
Kyrgios saves on break point but he needs to focus here at 30-40. And he saves one. Meanwhile Ebden and Purcell at 9-9 in their 2nd set TB
Tony Harper
Editor
The let machine is bluetooth controlled and NK not having it as it goes off again. He's down two break points.
Tony Harper
Editor
Knob watch: NK not happy about the let machine. It's rattled him and he's gone all sweary at the ump, survives a code violation.