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Friday, February 14, 2025

Kokkinakis Rallies From Brink To Deny Monfils | ATP Tour


Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis recovered from a first-set blowout and a dire place within the final-set tie-break to stun Frenchman Gael Monfils to achieve the second spherical of the Atlanta Open Monday evening.

After a collection of free forehand errors within the deciding-set tie-break, the World No. 86 gathered his composure after a warning for racquet abuse and rallied from 0/4 and three/5 to shut out a 6-1- 3-6, 7-6(5) victory on his first match level.

“At 0/4 I assumed it was just about over… From there it is one level at a time,” Kokkinakis mentioned. “In a tie-break you’ll be able to go down shortly and may come again shortly. I obtained some extent on his serve after which two on mine and swiftly he is feeling the strain.

“It was fairly worrying, particularly within the first set, which wasn’t a lot enjoyable He posed a whole lot of challenges and he is among the quickest gamers on tour. I can’t get a ball by him more often than not.”

Monfils was enjoying his first match since withdrawing from his second-round match with Holger Rune at Roland Garros as a consequence of a left wrist tear.


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Kokkinakis’ victory was the 27-year-old’s first tour-level match win since he reached the third spherical of Roland Garros. He subsequent faces fellow Aussie and second seed Alex de Minaur.

“Demon and I are good mates. We share Davis Cup collectively, we practice slightly bit collectively,” Kokkinakis mentioned. “He is a hell of a participant and he is main the way in which for us Aussies. He is the defending champion right here in Atlanta so he clearly likes the situations.

“I do know it will not be straightforward. I practised with him the opposite day and he gave me a spanking. It ought to be a enjoyable match.”

Kokkinakis, who improved to 12-9 on the season, put 76 per cent of first serves into play and received 76 per cent of these factors.

Eighth-seeded American J. J. Wolf raced by his opener with Chinese language Taipei qualifier Jason Jung 6-2. 6-1 to say his first profession win in Atlanta.

Wolf, who received 81 per cent of first-serve factors and saved the lone break level he confronted, will subsequent play the winner of 18-year-old Newport finalist Alex Michelsen and serve/volley specialist Maxime Cressy.

Sydney’s World No. 82 Aleksandar Vukic earlier within the day defeated NCAA champion and former College of Georgia Bulldog Ethan Quinn 7-6(5), 6-3.

South African qualifier Lloyd Harris rallied from a set right down to beat Australian Jams Duckworth 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 after firing 18 aces. The previous World No. 31, who’s now exterior the High 200 after lacking the ultimate six months of the 2022 season following wrist surgical procedure, just lately pushed Christopher Eubanks to a third-set tie-break within the semi-finals of Mallorca.

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