Adelaide: Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew from the Adelaide International on Wednesday due to an injury in his right shoulder. As a result, his opponent, Valentin Vacherot, advanced to the quarter-finals via a walkover.
Valentin Vacherot, the 2025 Shanghai champion, will now face either top seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Australian Rinky Hijikata in the next round. Davidovich Fokina and Hijikata are scheduled to compete on Wednesday evening on the centre court.
Kokkinakis made a strong comeback in singles on Monday evening after a long wait. Having undergone surgery for a chronic pectoral muscle issue, he was away from tennis for nearly 12 months. The home favourite showed grit as a shoulder injury troubled him during the match, but he managed an impressive victory in his first singles match in almost a year at the Adelaide International.
In his first singles match since 15 January last year, the South Australian player completed the match despite visible discomfort in his right shoulder. He defeated Sebastian Korda in a final-set tiebreak but struggled with pain throughout the contest.
After the match, Kokkinakis said, “It’s tough. Obviously, my right arm has troubled me throughout my career, especially due to serving. There are many ‘what if’ questions in my mind, especially if I hadn’t had these problems. Minor injuries are common, but the phase I have gone through feels somewhat unusual.”
He added, “It’s mentally challenging. I spent the whole year in rehab trying to fix it. I had surgery. This pain was slightly different from last year’s. I will see how I feel tomorrow morning. But yes, it is tough. It certainly spoils the joy of winning.”
Last February, Kokkinakis underwent surgery on his right pectoral muscle and shoulder. He made a doubles comeback alongside Nick Kyrgios at the Brisbane International last week, but the shoulder problem resurfaced during his singles return on home soil at the centre court.
Kokkinakis holds a protected ranking that allows him to participate in the Australian Open singles from 18 January, and he is also set to play doubles with Kyrgios. However, his participation in the season’s first major tournament is now under serious doubt.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment