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Kokkinakis out for more success at Queen's

Thanasi Kokkinakis takes on Russian world No.60 Daniil Medvedev for a place in the quarter-finals at Queen's Club on Thursday.

Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis
Thanasi Kokkinakis will take on Daniil Medvedev for a place in the quarter-finals at Queen's Club. (AAP)

He may have just recorded the biggest win of his career at Queen's Club, but Thanasi Kokkinakis has already put it to the back of his mind.

The South Australian, whose well documented injury woes have blighted his career for much of the last 18 months, stunned Canadian world No.6 Milos Raonic on Tuesday.

Seeing off last year's Wimbledon and Queen's finalist was the fist time the 21-year-old had beaten a top-10 player but it demonstrated the potential he boasts when his body allows him to.

The win also sliced 220 places off his world ranking which has now risen to 698 after he was given a wildcard by Queen's Club's Australian tournament director Stephen Farrow, and took full advantage.

It's a far cry from when he climbed to a career-high 65 as a teenager in 2015, but since then he has spent more time in the gym or in rehab than on court.

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His protected ranking allows him to compete at the remaining grand slams this year but he believes the pressure of having to survive on wildcards and qualifying for ATP events to boost his ranking is something he needs to get used to.

"If only it was that easy when you get into the top 100, win a match and you slice that much," Kokkinakis said.

"It's a weird feeling, because obviously coming back from injury, you've got protected rankings and you put a bit of pressure on yourself.

"Luckily Steve was nice enough to give me a wildcard. You're, like, okay, I've got this protected ranking. Hopefully I'll make the most of it."

Kokkinakis faces Russia's Daniil Medvedev for a place in the quarter-finals - a week after facing him in the Ricoh Open in The Netherlands.

The world No.60 prevailed 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in their only previous meeting but Kokkinakis is hopeful the confidence he gained from beating Raonic and also taking Kei Nishikori to four sets at the French Open last month can stand him in good stead.

"It's good to confirm that I can translate what I have been doing in practice to matches," he said.

"I guess the challenge for me is being able to stay in it physically and mentally for a long period of time.

"I have shown in the past I can play well for certain spurts, but I haven't been able to put the match away.

"That was a big thing for me (against Raonic)."


3 min read

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Source: AAP



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