ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 15, 2022

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Press Conference

T. KOKKINAKIS/M. Cilic

6-2, 3-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Final in your hometown. How does that feel?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Mate, unbelievable. Yeah, the crowd support was so good. But it was so loud. That's up there what I felt like when I played Gulbis at AO. Honestly the reason you play. Kind of keeps you motivated to keep playing, keep giving my best effort.

But, yeah, I couldn't have asked for anything more. To have a great week last week, I said this yesterday, I was tossing up whether it was worth playing this week. As I said, I can't pass up an opportunity to play another tour event in my hometown. Yeah, it was so good. Love it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Take us through the tiebreak in the third set. Absolutely crazy. What was going through your mind?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I was playing great. I didn't put a foot wrong up until about 6-2. Even the 6-2 point I thought I hit an okay serve. He hit a good return. Then, yeah, I just missed a backhand. I hit it well. Clipped the tape. I was just a bit off.

From there, credit to him, he made me come up with something. I just got a little bit tight, a little bit nervy, obviously thought 'result' for sure.

But, yeah, then he got match point up. I was like, Shit, I'm in some strife here. Honestly, when all those match points went, I'm like, Oh, God, I can't wait to hear about this on Twitter, headlines, that I'm a choke artist, all this.

I don't know. He hit a good serve. I just trusted my return, laced the backhand line. When I did that, I just kind of tried to relax. I really wanted a first serve on those match points. Luckily I did one match point down to get another one. Yeah, at the end I was like if I see a forehand, I'm just going to go big and trust it.

Q. Where does this moment rank in your career? You beat Federer in the past. Just the emotion of tonight, the significance?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: It's right up there I think. To do it in Adelaide as well, just after kind of the last few years I've had, yeah, it's right up there. I mean, it's probably number one. Who knows. I've got to think back.

Yeah, I couldn't ask for anything more, beating quality players last week and this week. Proud of my consistency. Proud of my mental effort. Yeah, I'm stoked.

Q. In terms of significance for your career, what would it mean if you could get an ATP title win under your belt?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, it would be massive. It's not the be-all, end-all. There's a lot of great players that have never won a title. For sure I'm thinking about it.

It's weird. Every match has a different pressure. Against Isner, I thought if I lose this, it's fine, I've had a good couple weeks. Then you get out there, no, no, no, let's try to win this. The match yesterday, I felt like I was in a really good position, obviously favorite. I just played I felt with like a lot more pressure. I was like, No, I have to win this one yesterday. Today again I was I'll just try to bring what I can, see what happens. Got a set up, got into a third, Let's give it all I got here.

It would be huge. I'm just going to enjoy it and see how it goes.

Q. Can you take us through your mindset right now. Where you are right now, how much of a whirlwind has it been?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Well, I mean, there's a lot of uncertainty in December. Obviously I wanted to train as hard as I could. I was never too confident of my wild card chances. A few things happened in the past. I never was too sure. I didn't know how that would set me up for the kind of Aussie summer.

I was just like I need to train as well as I can and worry about that stuff later, do as much as I can, because I know if I get the opportunity what I'm capable of sometimes.

Yeah, I mean, to come out and play good matches, back it up, that's the biggest thing. That was the question mark with me. I think people knew I could play the odd good match, but to do it consistently and back it up. Yeah, it's great. It's obviously set me up for a real good position in the year.

Yeah, as I said, I couldn't be prouder of how I started, all the work behind the scenes, my coaches, family and trainers have helped me kind of be able to produce this tennis on a big stage.

Q. Had you ever considered winning a professional title in Adelaide when you were a kid?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, you always think, Oh, it would be cool to win a title. You never think, I'm going to win a title. You're like, I hope to play this tournament one year.

I remember when it was the AAPT Classic I think it was called. I remember Tsonga playing. I think he hit a ball into the stands and I caught it.

I remember Vince Spadea out of all players, I don't know why. I just remember him playing when it was the green rebound ace. I remember going when I was younger.

To find myself in this position, beating a former Grand Slam champ, players like I've beaten, yeah, I'm stoked.

Used that word a few too many times probably (laughter).

Q. How much does your confidence grow?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, massive. I've always had the inner belief and inner confidence. Sometimes I've lost it. As I said, that's when I was contemplating stopping for a while.

I always kind of look back on good wins and good moments that I had to try and kind of push me to keep going, keep trying to bring my best level.

Yeah, it gives me a lot of confidence. As I said, I've always had it. I think the biggest thing for my confidence is just being able to back up and do it match after match. That's something that I haven't proven in a long time. To do it in back-to-back weeks is awesome.

As I said, all I'm trying to think is how I'm going to get to sleep tonight because it's my biggest issue. Yeah, I got to bed at 5:30 in the morning last night. That wasn't great. Woke up at 12. I don't know. I'm trying to think how I can get some decent sleep so I can be in the decent shape for the final.

Q. Have you had players on the tour reach out to you?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Not that many, man, to be honest. A few Aussie boys. Obviously my close friends. To be honest, that's all I care about. I couldn't give two shits, to be honest, about what other players give me their congratulations. At the end of the day they're all competitors.

My friends and family, that's all the support I need, just their backing. That's all I need. As a tennis player, it's pretty lonely out there. There's definitely a big group and big team behind that kind of keeps you going.

I've spoken to Nick a fair bit. He just came through doubles, wanted to throw a party after Aussie Open. He was talking about it. Don't know how that's going to go. No, that's pretty much it.

Ducks has been good, as well, a few of the Aussie boys. Me and Ducks always keep in contact throughout the year. I was messaging him when he went on his good run towards the back end of last year. He's been constantly giving me some good messages. Stolz as well. Another one.

Q. Some thoughts on Arthur tomorrow. A bit of a late-bloomer.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I think he went the college route as well, if I'm correct. Yeah, obviously a good player. Little bit of a throwback player. Likes to get in. Great serve. He's been playing well. I think these quick conditions suit him.

I'm going to have to be on my game. He obviously played unbelievable today to beat Moutet. He had actually been playing good as well. I'm going to have to be sharp.

Another big server that I'm playing. I got to take my chances and play my game. Again, I have to trust my abilities, what I can do. He's obviously a really good player and his ranking is on the rise pretty quick. He's got a lot of weapons.