ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 13, 2022

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Press Conference

T. KOKKINAKIS/A. Vukic

6-7, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Into the semis. Talk about the breakpoints tonight.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I don't want to talk about it (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: What was your thought?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I was losing my shit honestly. I was counting them. If you actually go back to the match with Isner, I think I would have been all of 16 or 17 in a row. Yeah, I was losing it.

But I had to eventually let it go at some point. I think when I took that one in the second, I had two more go by in the second, There's no way I should be losing this match. That's what I was thinking to myself the whole time. I was creating every chance. Even the chance he got, I think I created for him honestly.

Yeah, I was just trying to stay with it. I knew if I raised my level a little bit and played somewhat to my capabilities, the way the match was going, I'd be able to find it. He came up with some good serves, his credit, on some. He didn't come up with a good serve 13 times in a row. A lot of that was on me.

THE MODERATOR: No more breakpoint questions from me.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I'm sure there will be more (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Two semifinals to start the year. What does that mean to you?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, it's massive. Yeah, super stoked for the start of the year obviously. Spoke earlier, my goal is to try to stay healthy and give myself a chance. After having a deep run last week, I wasn't sure how I was going to pull up. I was in two minds: do I play this week or go to Melbourne and freshen up, get ready for AO.

My thing was I didn't want to take these tour events for granted. I know how few and far between they were last year. Mentally I was cooked after last week, but if I can get physically to a point where I'm okay to start next week, hopefully with the home crowd and everything, I'll find it.

Not regretting my decision at all. I might in a couple days, but right now I'm enjoying it.

Q. You're not even getting a break at the moment, playing day after day.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Brutal.

Q. How is the body feeling right now?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Honestly considering, pretty good. Obviously I'm feeling a few things, but nothing serious. Just some niggles from playing. That's what happens when you play at a high level day in, day out. Nothing serious.

The thing, my sleep's horrendous. I have trouble with getting to sleep, especially after late matches. My adrenaline is pumping. That's a tough bit, trying to recover.

It's weird. It kind of feels like I've played a Grand Slam because it's been two weeks in the same hotel, same venue. It is like I'm getting déjà vu every day. I'm not used to playing this many matches in two weeks, especially at this level.

All things considered, pretty good. I was pretty knackered out there. Eventually I found it and the crowd got me going, which helped.

Q. I know you don't want to talk about breakpoints, but can you talk about how you managed to reset after that first set.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I don't know. I went to the toilet. I was pretty frustrated. I was trying to take out a little bit of frustration. I actually needed to go to the toilet as well, but that's another thing (smiling).

I was just angry. I slapped myself in the face. Kind of my ego got the best of me. I was like, I can't let this happen. I have to kind of find a way. I didn't want to kind of hand him a semifinal. I felt like if I got my shit together - sorry - that I would get there. Eventually I did. I just had to reset.

When I had a few chances go by early in the second, I was really starting to lose it. When I took one, though, freed me up, I was able to play better tennis for sure.

Q. When you were talking about you slapped yourself, did you actually slap yourself across the face or what?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, yeah, I did slap myself in the face. I have a bit of a headache because I hit myself in the head with my racquet a few times. Probably harder than I should have. I reckon I'm feeling it, to be honest.

It's all right. It got me into it. I was able to refocus, play a bit sharper tennis. It's tough, it was a mindset shift. Yesterday I felt like I was playing with house money. If I lose to Isner serving like that, sometimes he can take at racquet out of your hands. If I get to Melbourne, I'm fine.

I woke up this morning, and I felt a little bit of a different pressure, I don't know, with the AO draw coming out. I thought I had a real winnable chance to get to the semifinal. Felt like I was playing a bit within myself, playing with a bit of different pressure today. I was happy mentally with how I got over it eventually.

Q. Are you watching the rankings? Do you watch them to see how you move or not?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: A little bit. I get reminded on Twitter here and there. As I said, you're not really thinking ranking as your playing. I started thinking finish line a little bit when I got up a break in the third set.

It's going to take care of itself hopefully. I'm just trying to win the match ahead of me. That's all I can do. That is how I try to bring myself back to it. I am like, Would I try to play this point any different thinking about ranking or am I just going to try to win the point.

You have to kind of set small goals for yourself, otherwise it can kind of cripple you. I think I was a victim of that a little bit last year. Through a lot of matches, I was like, I need this win. I want to get back to the hundred so bad. I need to get to these wins. I wasn't able to play to my level.

Q. You touched on the Australian Open. Have you seen the draw? Are you suspicious not to look ahead while you're in another tournament?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: If you're on any sort of social media, you can't really avoid it. Whether I actively look at it or not, I get it told to me.

Yeah, I saw a play a qualifier first up. Of course it's weird, you got one eye on that, but I know my job is here, that I'm playing this tournament. I'm going to try to do as well as I can here before going over there.

The way I looked at it, I was like, if I win today, it's like a third round of Aussie Open. I want to do great in Australia. I have this tournament here, and there's some big points there.

I saw I have a qualifier next week. I will worry about that when it comes to it. Fingers crossed for a Tuesday start to give me a little extra break. For now I'll focus on here.

Q. I know you're focusing on Adelaide, when that finishes you're focusing on the qualifier. Can I get you talk about Rafael Nadal as a player, your memories of that 2014 match.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, pretty cool experience. I remember obviously I played the two days before against Igor Sijsling, my first Grand Slam win. The emotions were off the charts. I was 17 at the time. Pretty raw.

I remember it being that hot that day and that hot when I played Rafa that they had to close the roof. We ended up playing on Rod Laver.

I thought I didn't do too bad honestly. I had like a little sniff here and there. Obviously he was the way better player. I had a couple chances. I think he was No. 1 in the world at the time.

He's so resilient. What he's been able to do over the years is nothing short of impressive. Just to stay motivated after all he's done, to just keep wanting more and wanting to play. It just shows the love of the game. He's one of the best competitors there is.

When I played US Open a couple years back I won my first round against Ivashka. I kind of re-tore my pec in that match that I didn't realize during. I got some scans after. I wasn't in good shape. I would have played Rafa again on Arthur Ashe. I was pretty shattered I had to miss that.

As I said, I'll focus on here. I'm not looking past the qualifier. Obviously a lot of great players. It would be good if could win and get another shot at him.

Q. Cilic coming up. He's getting back to the better form end of last year. What are you expecting out of him?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I'm expecting a good level. Was he a top four seed? Yeah, I think he might be a top four seed. He gets a bye. Had a bye last week as well.

I'm coming in with a lot more matches, probably a few more hours on the court. He's going to be fresher. He's just good. He does everything well. Good serve. Backhand when he was at his best was money. His forehand is pretty good. He does everything really well. Super professional, super intense.

I am not going to beat him by sitting back and waiting. I have to serve how I've been serving. I've been serving great. Hopefully have a bit better breakpoint conversion if I get one.