Protecting ATP 250 Adelaide 2 champion Thanasi Kokkinakis started his title defense with a slim victory. He won the Australian duel versus Alexei Popyrin 6/0, 6/7 (5-7) 7/5 in 2h44 of the game on Monday.
Despite the suit being in between two Australians, Kokkinakis had the mass of the crowd, as he was in his hometown. “I have wonderful memories from in 2014. Having that energy from the crowd was insane. And today I likewise woke them up in the most difficult of times. I understand that’s what they came to see and that’s why I function everyday.”
Current 110th in the position at the age of 26, Kokkinakis encounters Russian Andrey Rublev, the main seed of the event and number 6 in the globe, in the round of 16. The convenience in between them is unheard of on the professional circuit. I trained with him 2 days ago and we played well, it was a good set.
Seeds 6 and 7 in the event, Miomir Kecmanovic and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina debuted with triumph. The Serb got rid of Briton Kyle Edmund 6/4 7/5, and currently waits for the game in between Australian Jason Kubler and Argentine Tomas Etcheverry. The Spaniard defeated the American Brandon Nakashima by 6/2 and 7/6 (7-6). Fokina could face compatriot Albert Ramos or Australian John Millman.
The British Jack Draper and Daniel Evans had opposite directions in the competition. Draper beat Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6/4 6/2 and could face American Tommy Paul or Australian Christopher O’Connell, while Evans lost 7-5 to American Mackenzie McDonald, who is currently waiting the match between Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori and Swede Mikael Ymer.
