Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis faced disappointment as he withdrew from the Adelaide International due to a shoulder injury just hours before his scheduled match. This injury raises concerns about his participation in the upcoming Australian Open in Melbourne, which begins this Sunday. Kokkinakis took to Instagram to express his sadness over pulling out of his favorite event, stating that his arm was not yet ready after a year away from competitive play following pectoral surgery to address long-standing issues.
Despite Kokkinakis’s withdrawal, fellow Australian Aleksandar Vukic capitalized on the opportunity and progressed to the quarter-finals with a victory over Italian qualifier Andrea Vavassori. Vukic’s performance has been impressive throughout the tournament, and he previously eliminated two-time grand slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round. He managed to secure a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win, marking his fourth consecutive match in as many days—a challenging yet beneficial experience as he prepares for the Australian Open.
“Our match schedule is quite intense, but I see it as a fantastic way to prepare for AO,” Vukic, currently ranked 87th in the world, noted. He emphasized the importance of each week and match for his development, particularly aiming to enhance his game ahead of the big tournament.
Vukic’s quarter-final opponent will be the second-seeded American Tommy Paul, who defeated Reilly Opelka in straight sets. Vukic plans to approach this match with the same mentality he used against Tsitsipas, viewing it as an opportunity to assess his standing early in the year.
The Adelaide tournament also saw unexpected outcomes as the third and fourth seeds were eliminated on Wednesday. Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo fell to Spain’s Jaume Munar, while Ugo Humbert of France stunned Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor. These upsets add to the excitement of the tournament and leave opportunities open for emerging players. The atmosphere in Adelaide continues to build as expectations rise for the Australian Open.