Classy Dimitrov knocks Kokkinakis out of tournament
Grigor Dimitrov has sent a warning shot to the Australian Open’s top title contenders with an authoritative second-round victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The No.13 seed remains unbeaten this year after warming up for the Melbourne grand slam by winning the Brisbane International title, where he beat rising Dane Holger Rune in the final.
Dimitrov was in blistering form as he dropped only five games and crunched 39 winners to Kokkinakis’ 14 in racing to a two-sets-to-love lead, before having to dig in to complete a 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 triumph that moved him into the round of 32.
The defeat extends Kokkinakis’ record of never advancing beyond the second round at the Australian Open, at his eighth attempt.
“It was tough. He is playing incredible tennis at the moment. He was a better player, for sure, for the first two sets,” Kokkinakis said.
“The first set was probably closer than 6-3. I had a lot of break points to kind of make it a real contest, but he was playing great. I felt like I couldn’t get the ball past him – [he is] moving unbelievably well [and] was playing very well, the first two sets.
“Then I fought hard, scrapping, sneaking out the third set. The fourth set was a tussle. I got broken from 40-15,which is disappointing [but] the better player won. He is playing great.”
Kokkinakis, 27, fought hard to outlast powerful Austrian Sebastian Ofner in five sets in the first round but could not maintain pace early with Dimitrov, whose wonderful touch around the net prompted Channel Nine commentator Jim Courier to wonder whether he was using a racquet or a paint brush.
Dimitrov ventured to the net 56 times – winning 45 of those points – and was often in a commanding position once there, but his drop volley winner off his toes in the opening game of the third set was stupendous and earned him another break point.
Grigor Dimitrov claims his second round win at the Australian Open.Credit: Getty Images
But with a raucous John Cain Arena crowd overwhelmingly in his favour, Kokkinakis absorbed the pressure, hung in the set, then thumped a searing forehand to break the Bulgarian for the first time to force a fourth set.
The problem for Kokkinakis was Dimitrov kept creating chances, and even though the Aussie staved off a bundle of break points in the third and fifth games, he finally relented four games later.
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Often compared to Roger Federer for his silky skills, single-handed backhand and willingness to volley, Dimitrov also reached the Paris Masters final to end his 2023 season – losing to world No.1 Novak Djokovic – and might finally be ready to contend for a major title.
His best slam results have come in Australia, where he reached at least the quarter-final stage four times, including a semi-final seven years ago.
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