Kokkinakis completes miraculous comeback in Adelaide return
After nearly a year sidelined by a complex shoulder reconstruction involving a cadaver tendon, hometown hero Thanasi Kokkinakis overcame an injury scare and a one-set deficit to defeat Sebastian Korda
Thanasi Kokkinakis, Brisbane 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Local favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis marked a grueling return to the winner’s circle Monday, overcoming both a one-set deficit and a fresh injury scare to defeat American Sebastian Korda 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) at the Adelaide International.
The victory was Kokkinakis’ first singles win in nearly a year, coming 362 days after his last appearance at the 2025 Australian Open. Since then, the 29-year-old Australian has undergone a rare and complex surgery to repair a chronic tear in his right pectoral muscle – a procedure that involved using a cadaver’s Achilles tendon to reattach the muscle to his shoulder.
“Oh man…”
Playing in front of a partisan crowd at Memorial Drive, the site of his lone ATP singles title in 2022, Kokkinakis appeared to be heading for a quick exit after Korda claimed the opening set with clinical efficiency.
However, the momentum shifted in the second set as Kokkinakis began to find the range on his trademark serve. The revival was nearly derailed when the Australian called for a medical timeout to treat his right shoulder. Despite visible discomfort and discussions with his team about a potential retirement, Kokkinakis pushed through a tense third-set tiebreak to seal the match in 2 hours and 26 minutes.
“Oh man. It’s been a rough 12 months, but this makes it all worth it,” Kokkinakis said during his on-court interview. “I had my eye on this in Adelaide. I knew I’d come to a packed crowd. I was talking to my team every two minutes about whether I should stop. I felt like, ‘Even if I win, at what cost?’ but I love it here.”
Vacherot next
The win is a significant milestone for Kokkinakis, whose career has been defined by a series of major injuries just as he approached the top of the game. Currently ranked outside the top 400 following his long layoff, the Australian will need to monitor his shoulder ahead of his second-round clash on Wednesday.
He is scheduled to face fifth seed Valentin Vacherot. The Monegasque player, who rose to prominence last season by winning the Shanghai Masters as a qualifier, advanced Monday with a straight-sets win over Miomir Kecmanovic
