Thanasi Kokkinakis has recently undergone surgery for a persistent pectoral injury that impacted his performance at this year’s Australian Open. The 28-year-old tennis player struggled with the issue throughout the tournament, resulting in a disappointing early exit from the singles event. He also had to retire during the doubles match alongside his partner, Nick Kyrgios.
Despite initial efforts to rehabilitate the injury, Kokkinakis ultimately chose to pursue surgery, a decision that will likely keep him off the court for an extended period. He acknowledged the challenging nature of his injury, describing it as his “toughest challenge to date” and expressing gratitude for the support he has received during this difficult time.
In a candid Instagram post, Kokkinakis shared his struggles and aspirations for recovery, stating, “Been struggling for a little while with this… probably my toughest challenge to date.” He emphasised the ongoing battle he faced with the pec injury, which he had been unable to resolve independently, and indicated his hope for a positive outcome following the surgery.
At the Australian Open, Kokkinakis faced criticism for participating in a lucrative challenger event prior to the tournament instead of focusing solely on the Grand Slam. He managed to progress past the first round but was ultimately defeated in a challenging five-set match against British player Jack Draper.
Kokkinakis, who has previously won the Australian Open doubles title, has reached a career-high singles ranking of No.65 but has not advanced beyond the quarter-finals in major tournaments. With his surgery completed, he now faces the road to recovery and hopes to return to competitive tennis stronger than before.