Trailing 6-2 4-2, Thanasi Kokkinakis turned his match against Taro Daniel around to reach the second round of the ATP 500 event in Washington DC.
Washington DC, 1 August 2023 | Matt Trollope
Washington DC, United States
Thanasi Kokkinakis recovered from a precarious position on Tuesday before storming back to secure his place in the second round in Washington DC.
Kokkinakis was a point away from trailing 6-2 5-2, before turning his match against Taro Daniel around to win 2-6 6-4 6-4.
The win, completed after two hours and 40 minutes on court, sets up a second-round clash with Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
In full swing 🦋@TKokkinakis overcomes Daniel 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and will face No.13 seed Humbert next!#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/qf6MXRZJv6
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) August 1, 2023
Kokkinakis improves to 28-17 this season after scoring his second gritty win of the North American hard-court swing; last week he came from behind to beat Gael Monfils in a final-set tiebreak in Atlanta.
Another Aussie, Jordan Thompson, is looking to join Kokkinakis in the second round of the ATP 500 event; he is currently on court against former world No.5 Kevin Anderson.
Earlier on Tuesday, countrymen Max Purcell and Aleksandar Vukic both bowed out in the opening round.
In doubles, Australia’s Ellen Perez and American partner Nicole Melichar-Martinez kicked off their Washington DC campaign with a tight win over Anna Blinkova and Varvara Gracheva.
The No.1 seeds have now won 19 matches as a pair in 2023, and progress to the quarterfinals in the US capital.
Aussies in action – Washington DC
RESULTS
Men’s singles, first round
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d Taro Daniel (JPN) 2-6 6-4 6-4
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [WC] Kevin Anderson (RSA) – in progress
(Q) Zachary Svajda (USA) d Max Purcell (AUS) 4-6 7-6(2) 7-5
Brandon Nakashima (USA) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 7-6(5) 7-6(9)
Women’s doubles, first round
[1] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) d Anna Blinkova/Varvara Gracheva (FRA) 7-6(3) 5-7 [10-6]
COMING UP
Men’s singles, second round
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v [13] Ugo Humbert (FRA)
Women’s doubles, quarterfinals
[1] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) v TBC
Men’s doubles, first round
Matt Ebden (AUS)/Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) v [1] Rajeev Ram (USA)/Joe Salisbury (GBR)
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