Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal behave differently on a night out, according to Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The Adelaide native, 28, is currently placed 87th in the ATP rankings and has not advanced past the third round of a Grand Slam singles tournament. He only ever played tennis great Roger Federer once, and it was in the round of 64 of the 2018 ATP Masters 1000 in Miam, where he upset Federer.
Additionally, he faced ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal, losing in the round of 64 at the Australian Open in 2014 and giving up a landslide victory at the US Open in 2019. With their combined 42 Grand Slam victories and three Olympic golds, tennis fans frequently debate whether Federer or Nadal is better on the court. However, Kokkinakis has shared his thoughts on who would be more entertaining to hang out with on a night out.
He told fellow pro Felix Mischker on the tennis Brothers YouTube channel, looking back on his career and interactions with some of the biggest stars in tennis: “I heard Rafa doesn’t mind a night out.”
A time back, I spent a night at the player’s party in Acapulco with him. As long as it was inside the tournament’s bounds, I had no problem with tequila. Fed’s is elegant, so go for a glass of wine or champagne.
Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, was mentioned by Kokkinakis as a probable wild card on any night out, revealing the party potential of tennis elites. during the Serbian’s triumphant posts during the Olympics, Kokkinakis posted: “I think Novak would be loose. I’ve watched a few vids. I think a night out at Novak would be enjoyable.
When Kokkinakis and fellow countryman Nick Kyrgios won doubles at the 2022 Australian Open, it was one of the high points of his career to date. ‘The Special Ks’ startled opponents by defeating top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, then Ariel Behar and Gonzalo Escobar to advance to the quarterfinals.
They defeated Tim Putz and Michael Venus in a semi-final match, extending their winning streak and paving the way for a matchup with Marcel Grannolers and Horacio Zebballos. With their graceful victory, they qualified for the first-ever all-Australian doubles final since 1980, where they will face Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden.
The Special Ks prevailed in the final, winning the championship title in straight sets (7-5, 6-4). Consequently, Kokkinakis rose to 46th place in the ATP’s doubles rankings, breaking into the top 50. However, he hasn’t been able to reach the same lofty heights of doubles success since, and he hasn’t advanced past the third round of any major since.