AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 30, 2022

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Nick Kyrgios

Press Conference

KOKKINAKIS-KYRGIOS/Ebden-Purcell

7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, guys. Where does this rank among your best memories on a tennis court?

NICK KYRGIOS: For me, honestly, you know, I thought -- I have won some big titles around the world, played some amazing matches. This one ranks 1 for me.

When I say I wouldn't want to do it with anybody else, I mean it. It was just special. The whole week, winning each round, I didn't take it for granted. I was soaking it in.

Not one time did it cross my mind that we were going to win the title. Maybe when we got to about the quarters I started maybe thinking, but honestly, like the dedication I showed all week for my team, and like, I'm just super proud of myself the way -- you know, I don't really care too much after I lost to Medvedev, but doing it with Kokk is insane. This ranks 1 with me.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I have had an unbelievable summer. Comparing to what I have gone through in the years I have had the last few years, I couldn't have asked for anything more. Adelaide was No. 1 for me, but this has trumped it.

To be a Grand Slam champion with my boy, we have known each other since we were eight, nine years old, done some serious things together, have had some serious experiences, but this is incredible. We didn't expect this at all.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. So the last pair to win a junior slam and then go on and win a senior slam was the Bryan Brothers who went on to win 16.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: That's not going to be us.

Q. Rare territory. Do you get inspired to think we could go on and do this for years and have success around the world?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I mean, we aren't the Bryan Brothers. What they did is incredible. I don't think that's us. Goes to show when we play together and we are locked in, anything is possible. We hope to play a bit more this year. We definitely don't play traditional doubles.

I'd be surprised if anyone has won a doubles slam, I'm sure there have been, that play like us. It's pretty incredible. Shows you don't have to serve/volley for all those purists out there.

Q. Nick, it's been spoken about a bit this week about your maturity and how dedicated you have been. Can you give us insight into what that looks like? Anything you've missed or any extra session you've done? How does this week compare to what you might have done in previous times?

NICK KYRGIOS: I feel like a completely different person, to be honest. Just happy. Honestly, off days I was waking up at 7:30, coming here hitting at 8:30, ice bath.

I just thank my team. In the past I haven't had that many good people around me. Taken advantage of me. You know, I have had, I can't complain, had amazing two weeks, amazing experiences. I have just gone about it the right way.

I owe it to Kokk, the way he came out this summer and won that tournament, and I'm not gonna ruin like -- we don't know how many Oz Opens we're going to play in the future due to injury or just deciding not to play.

There was too much on it to do everything I could to play and play well, and look what happened. This is a memory that we are never going to forget. We are going to grow old, and we're always going to, Remember that time we rolled off the couch and just won Oz Open? Honestly.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: It's fucking nuts.

Q. What was it like to share the stage tonight with Ash, obviously another phenomenal achievement from her? Did you get to watch much of her match while you were warming up? I know you saw it, there was a bit of crossover in the stadium?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yeah, of course we watched. We were following. Super pumped for her. She's been an incredible player, incredible role model. She deserves it.

She's done everything right, goes about it the right way. To see the success she's having, she comes from a great family. I've known them for a long time. I used to travel with her. We have, like, the same billet, if you will, when we were younger traveling in Holland.

Yeah, I remember Ash when she was our age when we were like eight, nine again. We are super happy for her and she definitely deserves it. I was super pumped when I saw she got the W.

Q. When Ash came off the court and was being hugged by family and friends, I saw you standing up, watching all that with a big smile on your face. Both of you going out, after what she did, was that extra inspiration for you, going out onto the court?

NICK KYRGIOS: Well, for me, no, I'm not a, you know, jealous or envious person. I just wanted to sit back, I know how hard she works, all the boxes she ticks.

It's not really surprising to me. At a young age we knew she was going to do some special things in this sport. She just had to be in the right mindset.

I just enjoy seeing people like happy and celebrating a great result, like I just wanted to observe. I wasn't trying to translate that onto the doubles court or imagining myself winning. I was just watching and soaking it all in. It was a special moment just to see the people around her that have done so much and actually care about her well-being. I was observing and taking it all in. Special moment.

Q. Do you think maybe doubles can bring out the best in people, as you say, seeing other people happy? I imagine tennis in singles can at times be a bit lonely, but being able to share that with somebody directly makes it even more special?

NICK KYRGIOS: Definitely. We both love basketball. We love that team environment. We have said it before.

Yeah, I mean, look, there aren't many people that I would call close friends to me, and Thanasi is right up there. I would do anything for the guy. Put a lot of time for him.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Thanks, man.

NICK KYRGIOS: No worries, bro. I'll make it up to you.

I just love team, I think that's what it's about. It would be awesome to one day -- I have won some titles, feels good, singles, but this one ranks top, for some reason.

Q. The other boys spoke about how you're singles specialists, you were absolutely on tonight. They were really complimentary about you.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I read we were disrespecting our opponents. Yeah.

Q. They didn't say that tonight.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: It's tough to say that after a loss.

Q. I just want to ask, is there a future in doubles -- because the way you boys played tonight, are we going to see a shift, given you've just got a Grand Slam, teams will want to copy the best?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I don't think so. I mean, it's just something you're brought up playing. Your game is your game and your style is your style. I think if doubles players try and play how we play, it's not gonna work, and if we try and play how doubles specialists play, it's not going to work. It's just how we've been brought up, and what we think gives us the best chance to succeed. There's heaps of ways to play doubles but for us pretty much playing singles in a half court works.

NICK KYRGIOS: Look, I don't think tonight we did anything special honestly. We just had good energy, we were there for each other. I could tell that my legs were a bit heavy and I looked over at Thanasi, we were a bit quiet early on, I just told him, Like, let's just get moving. You know, my legs are heavy as well. Like, it's a big moment, none of us have been there before.

I just tried to stay positive and we just played solid. I thought we served incredibly well on the big points. We were just better. It could have gone a couple points here or there, that's doubles as well. We got very fortunate this week in some of the matches that could have gone either way. We just played the big points very well these last couple weeks.

Q. It's well documented what you have been through with your physical situation. A month ago, two months ago, could you ever dream to have been in this situation?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: No chance. No chance. Honestly. I mean, I knew what I was capable of, but you always have doubts and you always think to yourself, what if it doesn't happen, what if my career doesn't plan out the way I want it to, or what if I never win a title or get a chance like that?

To have the summer I've had, I was stoked with making a semifinal in Adelaide, just coming from not much in a tour event and then to win, I was, like, can't get any better than this. Then to win a Grand Slam after that, this month has been unbelievable for me.

I said to my team after, Whatever happens, if I snap my knee tomorrow -- this was after Adelaide -- I'm happy. I've won a title, coming from kind of where I felt was the lowest low to come and win a title in my hometown was incredible. It's just a big weight off my shoulders. It's a testament to my team and everyone that stuck by me through a lot of hard times.

Hopefully this is a start, but as I said, if this is as good as it gets for me, I'm happy.

Q. Great atmosphere in the stadium, obviously a couple of people ejected. What's your view on what you've created this week and where that potential is for audience and spectators?

NICK KYRGIOS: I would say that we've created probably the best atmosphere this tournament has ever seen, to be brutally honest with you. Ash's father came to us and said the crowd was the best he's ever seen. Obviously Ash is a hell of a player but I think the ratings speak for themselves. People watch my matches, everywhere I play around the world the stadiums are full for that reason.

I don't think those people that are screaming out for points produced from us. That's got nothing to do with us, to be honest. But there's a reason why the ratings are the way they are and people were glued to the TV when we play. Speaks for itself really.

Q. With the way the rules work, you guys are pretty much on pole position for a Torino spot. Is that something you would plan on reuniting for potentially? Because I think the rules work if you're a slam champ you kind of get one foot in the door already there.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: I mean, we're not going to turn ATP Finals down.

NICK KYRGIOS: All I'm saying is the ATP are pumped if we're there, bro.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: We didn't expect to make ATP Finals especially after playing one tournament for the year together. It's pretty fucking crazy, really.

Yeah, we'll rock up for sure. See what happens. I think everyone is going to want to beat us, but that's fine. I don't think anything changes.

Q. Strange question: Does Nick touch your butt as much when you're not on court together?

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Yes. More. Probably more. It's not for the cameras.

NICK KYRGIOS: More.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: It's just how we bring that camaraderie out.

NICK KYRGIOS: Much more.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: Do you like it, Ben? You do, don't you?

Q. Congratulations. You must be thinking, I appreciate you're more thinking what guest list you're on tonight, spoiler alert, I think it's all of them, but quickly, Grand Slams the rest of the year, is this the kind of thing where you might end up playing Wimbledon, French Open, US Open, that kind of thing, on your radar?

NICK KYRGIOS: I'm not playing the French, and I'm not playing Wimby doubles. Maybe just U.S. and then Finals.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS: There you go. I'll just try and find someone else. That's fine. Didn't even enjoy it, anyway. (Laughter.)

Just wants to rock up for the ATP Finals end of the year, I reckon. That's all right.