Thanasi Kokkinakis emerged victorious after a challenging encounter with Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka at the Adelaide International, marking a triumphant day for Australian tennis players. Kokkinakis, who won the tournament in 2022, delivered an impressive performance on his favored Memorial Drive court. He secured a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win just before midnight, showcasing resilience despite a lapse in concentration during the second set. Kokkinakis had a decisive lead in the final set, where he registered 41 winners and 15 aces, ultimately closing the match after facing a late charge from Nishioka.
Christopher O’Connell added to the Aussie success by defeating France’s Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), which prevented a significant drop in his rankings. This victory followed his previous disappointment at a Brisbane match where he lost despite having a match point. Another highlight of the day was the inclusion of Australians James Duckworth and Adam Walton in the main draw, following the withdrawal of key players Jiri Lehecka and Tomas Machac.
Lehecka, the defending champion, withdrew due to fatigue after recently securing his second ATP title, while Machac was sidelined by a knee injury. With this reshuffling, the Adelaide International continues with America’s Tommy Paul leading the pack as the top seed. Duckworth and Walton earned their spots by winning their respective qualifying matches, with Duckworth taking a straightforward victory against Jacob Bradshaw and Walton mounting a comeback against Rinky Hijikata.
