After pushing twelfth seed Taylor Fritz to 5 units within the third spherical of Roland Garros, Thanasi Kokkinakis feels he’s on the cusp of beating the highest gamers on the sport’s largest levels.
Paris, France, 2 June 2024 | Matt Trollopecarried out so within the second spherical towards Giulio Zeppieri.
After levelling the match towards Fritz at two units all, Kokkinakis held break factors in each the third and fifth video games earlier than the American escaped.
It leaves Alex de Minaur because the final remaining Australian within the singles draw this 12 months at Roland Garros.
> READ MORE: De Minaur battles into fourth spherical at Roland Garros
This may have represented Kokkinakis’ biggest-ever win, by rating, at a Grand Slam occasion had he gone on to beat world No.12 Fritz, coming greater than 9 years on from his upset of Thirteenth-ranked Ernests Gulbis at Australian Open 2015.
And after three journeys to the third spherical at Roland Garros – the key the place he now clearly performs finest – Kokkinakis was extraordinarily near progressing to the final 16 at a Slam for the primary time.
“I’m getting nearer and nearer. I’m hoping a breakthrough’s not too far-off,” stated the world No.100.
“However I’ve obtained to maintain working, obtained to maintain giving myself alternatives towards these massive guys. As a result of I’ve confirmed I’ve obtained the power to beat these guys, so I’ve simply obtained to maintain placing myself within the place to offer myself an opportunity to take action.
“I feel I’m so much nearer than my rating would counsel; (that) has been the case most likely a protracted a part of my profession.
“However I’ve simply obtained to maintain placing the runs on the board.”
Aussies in motion – Roland Garros
RESULTS
Males’s singles, third spherical
[11] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3
[12] Taylor Fritz (USA) d Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-3 6-2 6-7(4) 5-7 6-3
COMING UP
Males’s singles, fourth spherical
[11] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [5] Daniil Medvedev
> VIEW: Roland Garros 2024 males’s singles draw
Males’s doubles, first spherical
[2] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) v [Alt] Orlando Luz (BRA)/Marcelo Zormann (BRA)
John-Patrick Smith (AUS)/Denys Molchanov (UKR) v Petros Tsitsipas (GRE)/Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
Males’s doubles, second spherical
Max Purcell (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [7] Wesley Koolhof (NED)/Nikola Mektic (CRO) 4-6 6-4 1-1 to complete
John Friends (AUS)/Roman Safiullin v [10] Sander Gille (BEL)/Joran Vliegen (BEL)
Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Guido Andreozzi (ARG) v TBC
> VIEW: Roland Garros 2024 males’s doubles draw
Girls’s doubles, second spherical
[2] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) v Wang Xiyu (CHN)/Yuan Yue (CHN)
> VIEW: Roland Garros 2024 girls’s doubles draw
Blended doubles, first spherical
Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA)/John Friends (AUS) v [5] Vera Zvonareva/Sander Gille (BEL)
Blended doubles, second spherical
[1] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Matt Ebden (AUS) v TBC
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