Kyrgios and Kokkinakis victorious in emotional comeback in Brisbane
“A lot of people suffer ACL and Achilles ruptures, these are brutal, horrific injuries, but a lot of people have experienced them as well, so you know who to talk to and what to do.”
Loading
“This time, I’m measuring how we’re doing… being on the field, especially being with Nick, it was a special feeling. It’s been such a tough road.” [past] year and I try to take it one day at a time.
Water has flowed under the bridge since Kyrgios, 30, beat Kokkinakis, 29, in the 2013 Australian Open men’s final, and they are much closer to the end of their careers than the beginning. They laughed as they said this out loud, barely believing their age.
“I feel like my tennis journey has been very interesting and every time I add a little match like this to my resume or just go out there and play, it’s special,” Kyrgios said.
“I don’t really know what my plan is this year or what my future will be. I’m literally taking it every day. When me and Thanasi play doubles together, we’re reminded that this sport can be a lot of fun and that it’s not always just about injuries, competition and the grind.”
“Everything good that has happened in my life has come from this sport [but] It disappeared in an instant. I feel like we’re looking back at 2013 [boys’ final]and it’s like, ‘That didn’t seem like that long ago.’ “I am 30 years old now.”
While Kyrgios has reached greater heights – making the 2022 Wimbledon final at least a quarter-final berth among his four grand slam runs – he has become more controversial and polarizing.
While the former world number 13 defeated Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, whom he is extremely proud of, Kokkinakis also upset Federer in Miami eight years ago.
But both were persecuted for injury.
Kokkinakis has shown more public vulnerability about his unfortunate fate, as he did on Sunday night, but Kyrgios has increasingly bared his warrior exterior to admit how difficult it was to have tennis taken away from him over and over again.
“I can’t speak for Nick, but those are memories of playing in front of crowds and seeing the joy it brought to people. [that drives me to keep coming back]” said Kokkinakis.
“We love it when we’re healthy, when we can actually just play tennis and just worry about it. It’s a fun feeling and we’ve done it our whole lives.
“I’m trying to do everything I can. I don’t want to go five years and say, ‘I wish I had given it a little more chance’ or ‘I wish I could have done something else a little more.’ Even if we can continue in some way, I think we will.”
