Kokkinakis and Kyrgios Face Heartbreaking Australian Open Exit After Injury Setbacks
In a dramatic turn of events at the Australian Open, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, known collectively as the "Special Ks," were forced to retire midway through their first-round doubles match against fellow Australians James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic. The match, held at John Cain Arena on Thursday night, had begun with high hopes, as the pair had previously won the doubles title at Melbourne Park in 2022. However, despite their commitment to play together, injuries shattered their dream of repeating that success.
Kokkinakis, who had been battling a debilitating pectoral muscle injury, struggled to keep up his usual pace. Having fought through a grueling five-set loss to Jack Draper just the day before, Kokkinakis revealed that he could barely lift his right arm to serve for the doubles match. Despite this, he pushed himself to take the court with Kyrgios, determined to play for the fans at his home Grand Slam. Unfortunately, both players appeared compromised, with Kokkinakis serving at less than half his usual strength. The match was called off with the scoreline at 7-5, 3-2 in favor of Duckworth and Vukic.
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For Kokkinakis, the injury was a harsh blow, especially after a heartbreaking loss in his singles match against Draper, where he was on the verge of victory before his body gave out. The emotional toll was evident as he expressed regret over his inability to continue. Kokkinakis had been hoping to push through the pain for the doubles event, but the severity of the injury made it impossible. With surgery likely on the horizon, the future for Kokkinakis now seems uncertain. He had been taking heavy painkillers in a desperate bid to compete, but the reality of his physical condition was undeniable.
Kyrgios, too, has been dealing with his own injury struggles, notably an abdominal issue that had affected his singles performance. While both players had fought valiantly to make it to the doubles match, their bodies ultimately betrayed them. The decision to retire from the match left the packed arena disappointed and deflated, as the "Special Ks" were a fan favorite heading into the tournament.
While their Australian Open dreams were dashed, the attention quickly shifted to the crowd's behavior, which had garnered significant criticism. Some spectators, instead of showing support for Kokkinakis, jeered at Draper during crucial points in the match, even cheering his faults and errors. This unsportsmanlike conduct was labeled as "pathetic" and "embarrassing" by tennis fans worldwide, with many feeling it only fueled Draper’s determination to secure the win.
Despite the challenges faced by Kokkinakis and Kyrgios, there was a glimmer of hope for Australian tennis on Day 5 of the Open. Alexander Vukic provided a bright spot for the home crowd with an incredible five-set victory over 22nd seed Sebastian Korda. His stunning performance took the pressure off the home nation's misfortunes, showing that Australian tennis still has a strong presence in the competition. But for Kokkinakis and Kyrgios, the pain of their untimely exit lingers as they face the uncertainty of their professional futures.
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