ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 8, 2022

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Press Conference

T. KOKKINAKIS/M. Ymer

7-6, 4-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: How does it feel to be a semifinalist here in your hometown.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I'm stoked, really happy. A lot of hard work, especially in the off-season. But just the year past as well, what a grinding. Yeah, makes it all worth it, my first professional tournament back home.

Have friends and family here watching. Yeah, I couldn't be happier. The fans were great. Yeah, I'm just really fortunate to be in this position, really happy. We'll see what happens.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. First ATP level semi since 2017. What does that mean?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I mean, yeah, it's just a reward for all the work I've done behind the scenes. A lot of people kind of -- there's just been talk I was done for a while. I even thought it myself a couple times.

Now to be playing some good tennis, beating quality players, I'm really happy. I'm really happy. Again, it proves why I keep coming back from having some tougher times, why I keep wanting to play.

Had a fairly healthy year last year and hoping the trend is upwards.

Q. Take us through the mindset of a game like this one where he was making you play one extra ball time and time again. You said it was like playing against a human brick wall.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: It's really tough. He's really good at what he does. People might watch him and think, He doesn't have that flashy shot or big weapon. But his weapon is his consistency and his speed. He's beaten a lot of good players on that reason. He's really tough, very good mentally, keeps coming.

First set was a massive key. To be able to squeak that out was massive. I thought I lost my focus a little bit in the second, wasn't able to recover.

Started off the third set great. He kind of made an adjustment in the third set at 3-1 when I went to serve, he stood so far back. Had to do a couple things a little bit outside of my comfort zone, had to kind of serve-volley which is not something I'm known for. You've got to make those adjustments.

When someone is so far back and lives off your errors, then kind of forcing you to make errors by just getting that extra ball back, yeah, I had to make some adjustments. Happy with how I did that.

Q. With the injuries you've had, have you had to adjust what you do immediately after a match? Does that change more that it's less than 24 hours?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, you generally do the same stuff. I think there's a bit more of a focus on my recovery now, a bit more awareness on my body of kind of the things I need to do, what things kind of work for me.

But, yeah, straight in the ice bath after that. It was pretty cold. Didn't enjoy it too much. But it's part of it. But, yeah, I am sure to give myself every chance to be able to back up matches.

Me and my fitness trainer Jona, not Jono, is doing a good job of that. Sorry. Jono is wrong. He's been massive. Just brought him along the last sort of year and a bit. Yeah, it's the healthiest I've been, so stoked for that.

Q. Gael Monfils, what are you expecting from him?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, I was actually talking just rubbish to him. I had no idea until I got to the courts if I won I'd play him. Just talking to him at breakfast for probably 45 minutes. We are pretty close. We talk a lot of rubbish to each other. He is a really good dude. One of my favorite guys watching just how entertaining he was. He just brings the crowd to life. I think tennis needs more sort of personalities like that.

For me, I'm going to keep trying to do my thing, play how I play, play aggressive. It's going to be a fun match, a little different to today. I think he will be a bit more aggressive in some of the shots that he has. That being said, he's not slow either. It's going to be a nightmare to try to get a ball past him. It should be a fun match. Fans were great, so hopefully they can come out for a Saturday night viewing.

Q. The win and the wild card, a nice relief to have that off the chest?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, definitely. Obviously how this week panned out worked well in my favor. I found out after the Frances match. Yeah, definitely stoked and thankful to TA for that. Hopefully I can reward them by some good results.

As I said to them on the phone, I'm hoping I won't need another one. That's my goal. Sometimes it happens where I'll need one, and hopefully they give it to me.

My goal is definitely to play out the year and have a good year and not need to rely on anyone for any wild cards. That's the goal.