Kokkinakis/Thompson Continue Dream Run In Brisbane

After 15 months away from the ATP World Tour due to injury, Thanasi Kokkinakis is wasting no time making headlines at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp.

Competing in his first tournament back, Kokkinakis and fellow Australian Jordan Thompson advanced to the doubles final on Saturday. The wild card pairing delighted the home crowd by winning nine of the final 10 games in a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win over fourth seeds Daniel Nestor/Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

“We weren’t originally going to play together in this tournament, but a couple of injuries happened and we ended up teaming together,” said Kokkinakis. “Obviously it worked out.”

Kokkinakis underwent shoulder surgery in December 2015, then tore a pectoral muscle leading into the US Open and finished his unfortunate 2016 with a groin injury. But after all of the frustration dealing with his health, he said producing top form this week is vindication of his efforts.

“It’s unbelievable. Fifteen months off with injury, just missing [tennis] and rehabbing every day. It’s been a brutal time out,” said Kokkinakis. “I wasn’t quite ready to play singles, but thought I’d put my name in the hat for doubles and here we are in the final.”

This is the first ATP World Tour final of any kind for Kokkinakis or Thompson. Kokkinakis reached the Brisbane doubles semi-finals in 2015 (w/Dimitrov), while Thompson won four ATP Challenger Tour doubles titles in 2016.

The Aussie duo will now play Gilles Muller/Sam Querrey for the title.

“Sam beat Novak at Wimbledon this past year. They’re big servers, both have big games,” said Thompson. “They’re monsters out there.”

Meanwhile, Kokkinakis and Thompson will have to put their friendship aside next week at the Apia International Sydney. The duo are scheduled to square off in opening round singles action, which will mark Kokkinakis’ first ATP World Tour singles match since October 2015 in Valencia.