Jack Draper’s next opponent at the Australian Open has become embroiled in a row with a tennis legend before their second-round clash.
Thanasi Kokkinakis took painkillers for a longstanding shoulder injury and a leg muscle “tweak” as he beat Russian Roman Safiullin in four rowdy sets in Kia Arena on Monday night.
But Nick Kyrgios’ doubles partner then took on Todd Woodbridge over pre-tournament criticism from the former Wimbledon doubles champion over the world No.71.
The Channel Nine commentator slammed Kokkinakis for playing lucrative exhibition matches – including in Russia last month – before pulling out of Adelaide last week.
But Kokkinakis hit back at nine-time Wimbledon champion Woodbridge, who hosts television game show Tipping Point Australia as well as covering tennis.
The 28-year-old said: “That’s fine trying to make a good living, as well. That’s why he’s trying to host every game show there is under the sun. We’re trying to make a living as much as he is.
“Unfortunately, ATP sometimes, if you make a semifinal of a 250 event, you don’t get as much as what you would playing an exhibition. I’ve been pretty vocal that the season’s too long. Sometimes you got to weigh up your options as far as trying to do what’s best for your career, best for the ranking.
“It’s a tricky one. Obviously it’s a lot less stress on my body, a lot less stress mentally. I missed a lot of years and a lot of money not playing with injuries and whatnot.
“If I have opportunities that come up, Laver Cup is an incredible opportunity I couldn’t turn down. Obviously played a lot of Davis Cup as well, which no one mentioned. I’m competing for Australia, as well. That didn’t really get mentioned in his article.
“And also just it’s tough when people comment when they have no idea about the injury or what sort of tennis I’m playing. I haven’t lost this year. Yes, I picked up something, but it has nothing to do with my off-season.”
Woodbridge had said: “Scheduling is a really interesting thing with him. He has to think hard about what he’s going to do to get the best tennis career out of himself.
“At the back end of the year he’s gone off and he’s played Challengers (events) and then he went and played exhibition matches that he didn’t need to do.
“Yes, the money’s great and we all love putting that in our pocket and that’s exactly what he did, but that schedule’s hurt to start the year.”
Kokkinakis said he would seek medical advice on his shoulder injury after his home Grand Slam because he had been “playing through for the last five years”.
But he intends to play doubles with Kyrgios – they won the title together here in 2022 – unless his “arm has fallen off the bone”.
First he will face British No.1 Draper in the last match in Kyrgios’ favourite John Cain Arena – not before 8am UK time on Wednesday.
“Obviously a great player,” said Kokkinakis. “Came and had a very good year, the following year, the last year, sorry. I think he’s around 15 or something in the world. He’s going from strength to strength. We’ve had three matches. He’s won two, I’ve won one. All extremely tight matches.
“The first one I lost in Davis Cup serving for the match. The next one I got him. The last one was 7-5 in the third. A great player. Future stars of the sport or current stars as well.
“It is going to be a battle for sure. Hopefully the body pulls up all right and I can give it my best.”