Wawrinka whacked ahead of Kokkinakis grudge match

1 year ago 88

Australian tennis large Wally Masur says Thanasi Kokkinakis is simply a beardown accidental of beating Stan Wawrinka successful their Roland-Garros showdown — and has thrown a light-hearted jab astatine the Swiss champion's waistline.

When Australian wildcard Kokkinakis meets the three-time singles expansive slam champion successful the 2nd circular of the Paris major, it'll people the first-ever ATP lucifer betwixt the 2 men.

"I reckon this is not a atrocious gully for Thanasi," Masur said connected Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.

"We cognize that Stan is simply a champion, he's been a large subordinate for a batch of years.

"But ... you look astatine Stan's midriff — he's carrying a mates of kilos."

Watch Roland-Garros 2023 from May 28. Every lucifer advertisement escaped and connected demand. Centre tribunal sum successful 4K UHD connected Stan Sport

Wawrinka had a aureate tally betwixt 2014 and 2016, winning the Australian Open, Roland-Garros and the US Open.

But the erstwhile satellite No.3 hasn't precocious beyond the quarter-finals of a large since the Roland-Garros tourney of 2017.

Stan Wawrinka successful enactment during his opening-round Roland-Garros win. (Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In 2022, helium fell to arsenic debased arsenic 322nd successful the rankings connected the backmost of a ft wounded that required 2 surgeries and, reflecting connected his carnal struggles, has admitted to reasoning helium would ne'er vie again.

Wawrinka is ranked 89th connected the cusp of his lucifer against Kokkinakis, who's ranked 108th.

Wawrinka defeated Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-7 (2), 1-6, 6-4 successful the archetypal circular astatine Roland-Garros, while Kokkinakis overcame Great Britain's Dan Evans 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

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Kokkinakis' triumph was his archetypal singles triumph successful the main gully of a Roland-Garros tourney since 2015, erstwhile helium defeated Bernard Tomic.

"I don't consciousness excessively atrocious astir Thanasi's chances going forward," Masur added.

Kokkinakis breezes done Roland-Garros opener

Tension has agelong lingered betwixt Kokkinakis and Wawrinka, but by nary doing of their own.

Nick Kyrgios fired an infamous sledge astatine Wawrinka during a Canadian Cup lucifer successful 2015, saying: "Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to archer you that, mate."

The soiled sledge referred to Kokkinakis and Croatian prima Donna Vekic, who had played mixed doubles with Kokkinakis and aboriginal dated Wawrinka.

In the aforesaid lucifer against Wawrinka, Kyrgios besides said, "He's banging a 19-year-old".

A fuming Wawrinka confronted Kyrgios successful the locker country aft the lucifer and the communicative became folklore connected the ATP Tour.

Kyrgios was fined $13,580, slapped with a suspended one-match prohibition and apologised.

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis are adjacent mates and doubles partners.

They combined to triumph the men's doubles rubric astatine the 2022 Australian Open.

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