Blockbuster looming for tennis' great warrior

1 year ago 27

A titanic clash is looming astatine the Australian Open that's definite to gully an tremendous assemblage featuring 2 heavyweights.

All going to plan, Special Ks prima Thanasi Kokkinakis looks acceptable to look tennis elephantine Andy Murray successful a 2nd circular clash connected Thursday.

Kokkinakis is yet to implicit his archetypal circular lucifer with Italian Fabio Fognini, but swept the leads it 6-1, 6-2 4-2 with play suspended owed to rain.

LIVE UPDATES: Australian Open 2023 time 3 highlights

Murray, meanwhile, claimed archetypal circular honours implicit Matteo Berrettini successful a five-set, five-hour, tiebreak thriller astatine Rod Laver Arena.

The antheral of alloy claimed the scalp 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7, 7-6 to dethrone the 13th effect and acceptable up a 2nd circular berth.

Speaking aft Kokkinakis' lucifer was suspended, tennis pro turned commentator Mark Petchey said the 26-year-old inactive has a batch near successful the tank.

Watch the Australian Open unrecorded and escaped connected the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.

"Well, helium hasn't been to wherever I deliberation his highest is, that's for sure," Petchey said, speaking connected Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.

"No.69 successful the satellite is his highest ranking, he's good extracurricular of that astatine the moment.

"Obviously (if) helium does get done present helium plays Andy present and that's going to beryllium a cracking match.

"From that constituent of view, I deliberation Thanasi's champion years are up of him, for sure."

As for Murray, the 35-year-old antheral with a metallic hep can't beryllium counted out.

"That was immoderate magic from Andy," said Petchey of his archetypal circular match.

"He's a mystery, isn't he? Still here, 35 years of age. Still coming backmost here. Metal hip.

"You support reasoning 'this has got to beryllium it, this has got to beryllium it' and past helium has the heartbreak here. Five finals.

"We're penning him off, we're giving him a status party, and each of a abrupt helium comes done successful an perfectly epic redeeming lucifer constituent (on Tuesday).

"I'll ne'er number him out. I deliberation he'll bounce back. But evidently it's not the cleanable commencement if helium wants to marque a heavy tally here."

Before Kokkinakis faces Murray, 2 of his countrymen volition look to beforehand to the 3rd round.

Jason Kubler volition look Russia's Karen Khachanov, who bushed Nick Kyrgios successful past year's US Open 4th finals.

John Millman, meanwhile, goes head-to-head with Daniil Medvedev. The Russian mislaid past year's Australian Open last to Rafael Nadal successful a five-set thriller.

Petchey has precocious hopes for Kubler, though the aforesaid cannot beryllium said for Millman contempt his epic archetypal circular triumph implicit Marc-Andrea Huesler.

"I emotion Jason Kubler," said Petchey.

"We each cognize the communicative and the background, but astir importantly, his tennis is world-class.

"When he's on, helium is simply a handful. He has got the game, helium has got the ability, he's got the wins nether his belt, much importantly.

"When helium takes connected Khachanov, I similar his chances successful that one."

Petchey wasn't truthful keen connected Millman's chances against Russian superstar Medvedev.

"I thought Daniil looked precise bully (on Monday night) coming backmost onto heartbreak ridge aft what happened to him past twelvemonth and helium enactment that down him truthful emphatically.

"I'm not definite what John's got successful his crippled isolated from endurance, perseverance, and heart. That carries you a agelong mode and that's carried him done a precise illustrious career.

"I conscionable don't deliberation his service is large capable to origin Daniil excessively galore problems."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!