Thanasi Kokkinakis is among six Australians scheduled to compete on day six at Roland Garros 2023.
Paris, France, 2 June 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Thanasi Kokkinakis has advanced to the third round in singles at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in eight years.
After years of toil, injury setbacks and challenges, the 27-year-old Australian has a newfound appreciation for the achievement.
“The names you have to beat to progress, it’s just crazy how guys like (Novak) Djokovic and (Rafael) Nadal have won 20 of these,” Kokkinakis said after overcoming three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka in a five-set second-round battle.
“This stuff is so hard, to be honest. To try and win five sets is brutal. It’s a pain, especially on clay.”
The world No.108’s draw does not get any easier, with the towering Karen Khachanov awaiting in the third round.
World No.11 Khachanov has proven a difficult opponent of late for Australians at Grand Slam level. He scored a five-set win over Nick Kyrgios in the US Open quarterfinals last year and defeated Jason Kubler during a semifinal run at the Australian Open in January.
Kokkinakis, however, is unfazed by the challenge.
“I’m not trying to put a limit on myself,” he said. “What I do know is that I’m going to give myself every chance.”
Kokkinakis is hoping to become the first Australian man to advance to the round of 16 in Paris since Lleyton Hewitt in 2007.
Roland Garros is broadcast live in Australia on the Nine Network and Stan Sport, with coverage beginning from 6.30pm AEST.
Aussies in action on day six:
[WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v [11] Karen Khachanov
Men’s singles, third round, Court Simonne-Mathieu, first match (from 7pm AEST)
As Kokkinakis looks to advance to a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time in his career, Khachanov is hoping to reach the final 16 in Paris for the sixth time in the past seven years. Kokkinakis has scored two impressive wins so far this tournament, including his first victory against a seeded opponent at a major in eight years. Now the Aussie wildcard is hoping to record his first top-20 win at a Grand Slam tournament since Australian Open 2015.
Head-to-head record: Khachanov leads 1-0
Last meeting: Khachanov won 7-5 6-4 (Monte Carlo, April 2018)
> VIEW: Roland Garros 2023 men’s singles draw
John Peers (AUS)/Marcelo Melo (BRA) v [7] Hugo Nys (MON)/Jan Zielinski (POL)
Men’s doubles, second round, Court 8, second match
World…
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