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Tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis says there is no reason why Australia cannot win the Davis Cup finals in November to redeem its loss in last year\u2019s decider.<\/p>\n
And the Australian Open doubles champion has revealed his great mate Nick Kyrios is on the comeback trail, with plans to be fully fit for the start of the international summer at home.<\/p>\n
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Thanasi Kokkinakis back in Australia on Wednesday after a successful Davis Cup outing in Manchester.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Darrian Traynor<\/cite><\/p>\n Kokkinakis, fresh from returning from Manchester where he helped Australia surge into the final eight of the Davis Cup, was in Melbourne on Wednesday, helping to promote the first-ever National Hockey League games in the southern hemisphere. The matches between the Arizona Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings will be played at Rod Laver Arena this weekend.<\/p>\n The robust right-hander was still buoyant after Australia\u2019s win over the Swiss last weekend, with Lleyton Hewitt\u2019s side now drawn to face Czechia in the quarter-finals of the knockout phase in the Spanish city of Malaga.<\/p>\n Czechia may not be a glamour tennis nation, but \u2013 led by world No.30 and 2022 Australian Open quarter-finalist Jiri Lehecka \u2013 it was the only team to emerge from the group stages with an unbeaten record in nine games.<\/p>\n The winner will book a semi-final against either defending champions Canada or Finland, the latter fresh from surprise wins over the USA and Croatia.<\/p>\n Kokkinakis said the Australians had a burning desire to make amends for last year\u2019s loss to Canada in the final.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a lot of really good depth. We have a really strong doubles team as well. We feel like if we are one-all going into the deciding rubber. I think we have a really good chance as well. We have the utmost faith in each other, and not many egos on the team, which is good,\u201d Kokkinakis said.<\/p>\n Alex de Minaur, Kokkinakis and the doubles pairing of Matt Ebden and Max Purcell secured a place in the top eight by sweeping the Swiss 3-0.<\/p>\n The decision by Hewitt to keep faith in Kokkinakis paid off when the South Australian defeated Dominic Stricker 6-3, 7-5 in the opening rubber against the Swiss.<\/p>\n Thanasi Kokkinakis was pleased to reward the faith shown in him in Manchester by Australia\u2019s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Kokkinakis was under immense pressure after an earlier loss against Jack Draper, as Australia lost to Great Britain. But Hewett backed Kokkinakis, and the world No.74 responded in style, snapping a run of three-consecutive Davis Cup defeats.<\/p>\n \u201cI am happy they had faith in me, putting me out there. I had no idea [whether I was going to play]. I had been practising really well throughout the week, but there were a couple of guys who are higher ranked than me,\u201d Kokkinakis said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt showed that Lleyton had a lot of faith in me. You are never sure, but they kind of let me know early [and] they backed me as a singles option.\u201d<\/p>\n If Australia manages to lift the title in Spain, it would be its first Davis Cup win since Hewitt led them to victory as a player 20 years ago.<\/p>\n Kokkinakis, now preparing to head to Shanghai, has beaten Lehecka this year.<\/p>\n \u201cDavis Cup, it\u2019s a three-match comp, it doesn\u2019t take much \u2013 there can be a lot of upsets. It\u2019s going to be a challenge, but I think we like our chances,\u201d Kokkinakis said.<\/p>\n Drew Doughty of the LA Kings meets up with Thanasi Kokkinakis ahead of the NHL Global series to be played at Rod Laver Arena this weekend.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Darrian Traynor<\/cite><\/p>\n Kokkinakis will catch up with his close friend Kyrgios in Sydney on Thursday, the latter having not played a major tournament this year because of multiple injuries.<\/p>\n Kyrgios has only played one competitive singles match since his withdrawal from the Japan Open due to a knee injury in October 2022. He pulled out of the Australian Open because of a knee issue and underwent surgery. He returned for one match in Stuttgart in June, but then withdrew from Wimbledon with a wrist injury.<\/p>\n But Kokkinakis revealed the man won the Australian Open doubles title with in 2022 was on the mend.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he has started to do some fitness stuff, so we\u2019ll see. I am hoping to team up with him again next year in Australia. I think he\u2019ll probably start in Australia \u2026 I think that\u2019s what he will save himself for,\u201d Kokkinakis said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he is doing all right. He has improved a lot in the last week or so. Hopefully, we can get this place rocking again.\u201d<\/p>\n Kyrgios\u2019 knee issues meant he and Kokkinakis could not defend their doubles crown at the Open this year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s his first really serious injury he has had in career. I have had four or five years of what he has had. I know it\u2019s not easy. I am sure later in his career it is an adjustment period; not being able to play the tournaments he wants, but if he is in the right head space mentally, he will get back,\u201d Kokkinakis said.<\/p>\n Kokkinakis had a light hit with star Kings defenceman Drew Doughty at Kia Arena, joking he was glad he was on a court, not the ice.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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