Kokkinakis' surprise admission as AO defence looms

Thanasi Kokkinakis is doubtful helium and doubles spouse Nick Kyrgios tin triumph back-to-back Australian Open titles pursuing their singular tally astatine past year's slam.

The pair, affectionately dubbed the Special Ks, volition squad up again for this year's Open aft going connected a giant-killing streak successful 2022 that culminated with them defeating chap Aussies Matt Ebden and Max Purcell successful the final.

Kokkinakis and Kyrgios participate the large arsenic the No.7 seeds aft claiming the Atlanta Open doubles rubric successful July.

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Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis speech tactics successful past year's second-round Australian Open doubles win. (Getty)

Asked if helium thought helium and Kyrgios could support their AO title, Kokkinakis was skeptical.

"No, I don't," helium said with a laugh.

"Last twelvemonth was thing we didn't expect.

"I retrieve radical messaged maine aft each lucifer we won being like, 'You're going to triumph this thing'.

"I'm like, 'No, someone's going to bushed us. We're going to suffer to a doubles team, for sure'.

"It became a anticipation from the quarter-finals. I legit thought, 'We tin beryllium amended than these guys. We tin win'.

Special Ks' solemnisation neglect aft winning semi

"If I was to accidental I'm expecting to backmost it up, I'd beryllium lying."

In spite of his disbelieving outlook, Kokkinakis said the duo would bash everything wrong their means to repetition past year's heroics, adjacent portion funneling their efforts into their respective singles campaigns.

"We're going to spell retired determination and springiness 100 per cent," helium said.

"Hopefully we're some steadfast going into it."

Kokkinakis and Kyrgios volition play Colombia's Nicolas Barrientos and Uruguay's Ariel Behar successful the archetypal round.

After a fiery brushwood with Croatian pairing Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic astatine past year's event, the Special Ks volition not look them unless some advancement to the final.

The brace are among 17 Australians who volition contention the men's doubles competition.

Thirteen Australian women volition marque up the women's doubles draw, including Storm Hunter and the retiring Sam Stosur.

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