Unfortunately, hometown favorite and previous title holder Thanasi Kokkinakis was eliminated from the Adelaide International tournament following a first-round defeat by Serbian player Dušan Lajović.
Lajović initially struggled but improved as the evening progressed, ultimately disappointing the Memorial Drive audience with his 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory.
The loss signifies that Kokkinakis has not won a match since October and will enter the Australian Open without a victory. After missing the Davis Cup finals due to an ankle injury, he returned to competition last week in Brisbane but was defeated in the first round by fellow Australian Rinky Hijikita.
Kokkinakis made a name for himself in the 2022 tournament as a wildcard entry, showcasing his exhilarating and emotional performance. He faced a tense final-set tie-break against Marin Cilic in the semi-finals but ultimately fell short as Lajović’s steady play from the baseline proved to be the deciding factor.
Kokkinakis shared, “I believe I performed well and had a strong start in the game of tennis… I did not make many mistakes.”
“I became a little unfocused at the beginning of the second [half]. While I wish I had performed better, I am not yet at the level I aspire to be.”
In the beginning, Kokkinakis played confidently and his first serve was difficult to return. However, Lajović was able to adapt and overcome it in the first set.
The player from South Australia made a powerful comeback to gain the first advantage in the game and lead 3-1. They then impressively won the first set when their opponent hit a backhand shot too far.
However, Lajović, who surprised his fellow countryman Novak Djokovic on the Bosnian clay in the previous year, was not easily defeated.
Kokkinakis struggled with errors in the second set, possibly due to the softness of the balls, and Lajović took advantage of this to win.
Following a mistake from the South Aussie player in the fourth game, Lajović was able to break his serve once again in the sixth game, this time without losing a single point. He then sealed the match by hitting a forehand winner across the court, forcing a third set.
Kokkinakis was trailing in the final set before he managed to break back three games later with an impressive forehand winner that pleased the crowd.
He kept his fans on edge as he clawed back from a 0-40 disadvantage to secure the lead and go up 4-3.
Lajović managed to maintain his composure and secure a tense hold before once again breaking Kokkinakis. He then expertly served out the match, ultimately securing the win with a powerful forehand shot.
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After his defeat, Kokkinakis expressed disappointment with the texture of the tennis balls, likening them to “lemons”.
He stated that the balls effectively countered his strong serve and were the gentlest ones he had come across since the Cincinnati Masters last year.
He mentioned that things used to move faster here.
“I am not accustomed to serving only four aces, especially on a fast playing surface. When the balls slow down, it feels like there is plenty of time for returns.”
Overall, they have been significantly slower this year compared to last year, with the exception of Cincinnati.
After several exchanges, the balls become very sluggish and resemble lemons. This can be challenging, especially in colder temperatures, as it hinders the ability to generate power when hitting the ball.
Although he was visibly annoyed by the balls, Kokkinakis believed that the outcome of the match was determined by his own performance, particularly during the crucial second set.
He stated that he did not believe it was him playing exceptionally well in the second set.
“He displayed consistency and professionalism, and was a formidable player. Despite the score appearing to be 6-1, it was actually due to my lack of concentration. I believe that the majority of the match was within my control, but a few mistakes caused the match to become more challenging.”
My greatest flaw is being honest. When I am performing strongly, I tend to relax and make risky shots, causing me to lose concentration.
“It altered the entire course of the game.”
