Kokkinakis responds to Fognini tanking claims

1 year ago 20

Thanasi Kokkinakis said helium wasn't impacted by claims Fabio Fognini tanked successful his opening circular match, aft finishing disconnected the occupation from their rainfall delayed clash.

Kokkinakis needed conscionable 5 points to seal triumph implicit Fognini connected Wednesday, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 successful nether 2 hours.

The Italian erstwhile satellite No.9 hardly enactment up immoderate absorption which led to accusations of tanking from fans, but Kokkinakis wasn't buying into the claims, saying he'd alternatively judge the effect was owed to his play.

Kokkinakis breezes into 2nd round

"I've played him 3 times and I'm 3-0, truthful unless he's tanked each time, I'm playing good," Kokkinakis said.

"I served well, I felt similar I didn't truly springiness him galore chances. I don't cognize what he's feeling oregon however he's doing it, but he's been successful the apical 10.

"Who knows, a batch of guys travel successful and out. If you look astatine immoderate of the interruption points, there's balls that radical would beryllium tanking on, wouldn't tally retired and effort hustle them back.

"I don't truly attraction to beryllium honorable whether radical deliberation helium tanked oregon not, I'm done to the 2nd round, that's each that matters."

Journo bungles Kokkinakis question

The Australian volition present look Andy Murray, aft the erstwhile satellite fig 1 defeated 13th effect Matteo Berrettini. Kokkinakis said Murray has ever been generous with his clip since helium became a professional.

"He was idiosyncratic erstwhile I came onto circuit that was ever consenting to springiness immoderate proposal erstwhile helium thought," helium said.

"I practised with him a just bit, I played doubles with him astatine Indian Wells, truthful we person a reasonably bully relationship.

"We get on truly well. I really truly similar him disconnected the court. I retrieve watching him erstwhile I was younger reasoning this dude looks moody arsenic hell, helium looks miserable. Then erstwhile you got to cognize him, helium is really a ripper bloke and a bully guy.

"Yeah, enactment each that speech and springiness it a ace tomorrow. But idiosyncratic I person the utmost respect for."

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