Kokkinakis stunned by locker-room mix-up

Australian tennis ace Thanasi Kokkinakis has taken to Twitter to pose in women's underwear after finding a stray bag of laundry in his US Open locker.

Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis

Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis has posed in women's underwear after a laundry mix-up at the US Open. (AAP)

Thanasi Kokkinakis has seen the lighter side of a laundry mix-up and quickly refocused on completing some unfinished business at the US Open in New York.

The Australian was stunned to find a bag of women's underwear in his locker when he arrived at Flushing Meadows to prepare for his first-round showdown on Tuesday with two-time quarter-finalist Janko Tipsarevic.

Kokkinakis said he'd left two bags of washing - one for himself and one for his coach Todd Langman - only to be greeted with a shock upon collection.

"I turned up and there was one with G-strings and panties there," he told AAP.

"I opened my locker and I had one bag which was my clothes and one bag which, I guess, they thought was my coach's clothes.

"But they were a WTA player. We switched them back. I think it was a Spanish girl. I think.

"So that was pretty interesting."

Kokkinakis posted a photo posing in his new outfit on Twitter.

"I thought I'd make a joke of it and put it on. There was a little sports bra as well so I put that on as well," he said.

The injury-plagued Kokkinakis is back at Flushing Meadows for the first time since having to retire with severe cramps during the fifth set of his epic first-round match two years ago against French ace Richard Gasquet.

"It's good to be back. I was winning that match. That's how I felt. I think he felt that as well," he said.

"But hopefully I've learnt a few things from then. I'm totally on top of my hydration as much as possible.Sometimes it just happens.

"But coming in I'm pumped to play another US Open. The courts suit me here. The conditions suit me well, so I'm eager to get out there and hopefully I play well."

Kokkinakis had the chance to test his form in a hearty centre-court practice session on Arthur Ashe Stadium with fifth-seeded Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion in New York.

"I was playing well. It was a good set. We didn't get to finish but it was good quality and I feel good," he said.

"Hopefully I can play to my level because I know when I can, I beat a lot of players.

"Tipsarevic used to be a top-10 player so he knows what it takes.

"I've got to be solid."


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Source: AAP



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