Toronto Masters: Kokkinakis sees off Zhang, advances to second round

Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis has played some clean tennis to win against China’s Zhizhen Zhang 7-5, 6-4, booking a spot in the second round of the Toronto Masters at the Aviva Centre on Monday afternoon.

💥 Thanasi Through 💥

🇦🇺Thanasi Kokkinakis (Q) has moved into the last 32 in Toronto 🇨🇦 after a 7-5, 6-4 win over 🇨🇳Zhizhen Zhang at the ATP Masters 1000 – R64.

✅ 28 winners
✅ 2 unforced errors

Next – 🇮🇹 Lorenzo Musetti (16)#TheFirstServe pic.twitter.com/9HcnHoBimU

— The First Serve (@TheFirstServeAU) August 7, 2023

Kokkinakis, who defeated Borna Gojo and Constant Lestienne in qualifying, put on a clinic of clean-hitting against world No 63 Zhang, hitting 28 winners and only two unforced errors across the one hour, 27 minute match. The Australian barreled down a total of 14 aces as well, showing why he can be a threat to any player on his day.

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Kokkinakis, ranked No 86, will play Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 16 seed, next.

Toronto Masters, other first-round matches (Aviva Centre, hard, USD 6,600,000):

• Hubert Hurkacz (15) beat Alexander Bublik: 6-3, 7-6 (2)
• Matteo Berrettini beat Gregoire Barrere: 6-4, 6-3
• Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beat J.J. Wolf: 6-0, 6-2
• Jiri Lehecka beat Brandon Nakashima: 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (2)
• Lorenzo Musetti beat Yoshihito Nishioka: 6-4, 6-1
• Francisco Cerundolo beat Alexis Galarneau (WC): 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
• Vasek Pospisil vs. Matteo Arnaldi
• Alex De Minaur vs. Cameron Norrie
• Gabriel Diallo vs. Daniel Evans
• Ugo Humbert vs. Nicolas Jarry
• Alexander Zverev vs. Tallon Griekspoor
• Mackenzie McDonald vs. Aslan Karatsev
• Lorenzo Sonego vs. Andy Murray
• Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Max Purcell
• Aleksandar Vukic vs. Borna Coric
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs. Sebastian Korda
• Emil Ruusuvuori vs. Marcos Giron
• Ben Shelton vs. Bernabe Zapata Miralles
• Milos Raonic vs. Frances Tiafoe
• Cristian Garin vs. Miomir Kecmanovic
• Tommy Paul vs. Diego Schwartzman
• Adrian Mannarino vs. Taro Daniel
• Gael Monfils vs. Christopher Eubanks