Nick Kyrgios' best mate smashes racket after Miami Open clash despite winning match
Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis is gaining something of a reputation for smashing his racquet - win or lose.
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Breaking one's racquet in tennis is traditionally considered a very negative act, either as a sign things haven't gone to plan or are at least well on that path. But Thanasi Kokkinakis is reclaiming it for the forces of good after obliterating his as a form of celebration in Florida.
The Adelaide native—who is close friends with Nick Kyrgios and won the Australian Open doubles title with his compatriot in 2022—advanced to the second round of the Miami Open after beating Zizou Bergs 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(7) on Friday. Kokkinakis saved three match points en route to victory and was naturally emotional after surviving several close calls to progress.
It's not uncommon for players to let out a battle cry in such instances before they shake hands with their fallen foe at the net. But the physical reaction didn't stop there for the 26-year-old as she showed the Miami court precisely what he thought of his latest win.
Kokkinakis proceeded to lay into the surface with one savage swipe of his racquet, clearly content with his comeback performance. The 26-year-old later tweeted he was "battling some serious demons" in some form of explanation for the display.
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"I've been feeling happy on court the past couple of weeks and made a pact with myself to at least compete, no matter how I'm feeling," he told reporters after the win. "My tennis is fine, it's just my head.
"I'm just trying to give myself every chance. The crowd got behind me and without them I wouldn't have pulled through. I'm happy I live to fight another day."
The win was all the more valuable for Kokkinakis considering he entered the Miami Open draw as a lucky loser. His run at the tournament appeared over after he fell to Benoit Paire in the last round of qualifying, only to be granted a place in the main draw by default.
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Smashing your racket...after a win ������@TKokkinakis saves three match points to defeat Bergs 4-6 6-3 7-6(7) and reach R2 in Miami, where he will face Hurkacz!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/7lAGz91sCM
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 24, 2023
It's not the first time Kokkinakis has been seen venting his emotions through his racquet. that's after he made headlines in January for destroying his equipment in response to Andy Murray's incredible comeback from two sets down at the Australian Open.
His reward for beating Bergs is a second-round clash against No. 8 seed Hubert Hurkacz, who recently won the Open 13, an ATP Tour 250 event held in Marseille. The meeting in Miami will be the first time he and Kokkinakis have faced off in any ATP tournament.
Fans will hope the Australian at least brought a surplus of racquets with him to the United States. As we now know, it's not only defeat that could see his tools of choice reduced to pieces, with clean-up crews on Miami sure to be on standby regardless of the result.