Kokkinakis a late-night, five-set hero again in Paris
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
Thanasi Kokkinakis has pulled off a second astonishing, late-night five-set comeback triumph in three days at the French Open to ensure Alex de Minaur won’t be the only Australian standing in the third round of the French Open.
After de Minaur had delivered a consummate 7-5 6-1 6-4 win over Jaume Munar on Thursday to make the last-32 at Roland Garros for the first time, it was Kokkinakis who again stole the Aussie show by coming back from two sets down to beat Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 1-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
After he had roared back from two sets to one down to beat Alexei Popyrin in an all-Australian five-set classic which finished at 11.37pm on Tuesday, the Adelaide marathon man this time wore down Zeppieri to earn his triumph in front of boisterous fans on Court 10 under lights again at 11.35pm.
The three-hour 45-minute grind, interrupted by a rain break for an hour, was the third time Kokkinakis has made the third round at Roland Garros, and his fourth successive victory in a five set-match after the heartbreak of his epic 4.05am loss to Andy Murray in Melbourne last year.
It was an astonishing effort after Zeppieri served for the match in the fourth set at 5-3 only for the 28-year-old Greek Australian to simply refuse to bend. He even outlasted the Italian physically, as Zeppieri began to cramp and wilt badly in the last set and need to call the trainer for a left leg issue.
“(I’m) on fumes at the moment. It’s tough,” admitted Kokkinakis.
“I really need to try and do it easier but guys are good and I struggle with my focus a lot of the time.
“I mean, finding a win ugly is better than not winning at all but (it) definitely catches up with you in these Grand Slam matches.”
Kokkinakis now prepares to meet No.12 seed Taylor Fritz in the third round.
With he and de Minaur winning their second round matches, it marks the first time that two Australian men have advanced to the Roland Garros third round since 2015.
With AAP
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