Thanasi Kokkinakis: 'I didn't care if I never played again ...
Thanasi Kokkinakis did not expect a first-round doubles match at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ could move him to tears.
www.atptour.comHere are the latest updates I can share based on recent coverage.
Thanasi Kokkinakis (often referred to as Thanasi in news) withdrew from the Australian Open singles in January 2026 due to a recurring right shoulder issue after returning from a pectoral surgery in 2025. He indicated he would aim to compete in doubles at Melbourne Park instead. This marks a continued injury-related setback for the Australian star, who has battled a long sequence of injuries in recent years.[4]
In early January 2026, Kokkinakis had returned to singles at Adelaide but pulled out mid-tournament because of shoulder concerns, reinforcing the ongoing challenge he’s facing with his right shoulder after prior surgery. He later confirmed the Australian Open singles withdrawal while expressing hope of playing doubles at the Open.[6][4]
Prior reporting from late 2025 into January 2026 highlighted Kokkinakis’ emotional comeback efforts with Nick Kyrgios, including a doubles performance that signaled his fight to return to high-level competition, even as singles opportunities remained uncertain.[5][9]
Beyond tournament results, several outlets reviewed the broader trajectory of Kokkinakis’ career, noting a history of injuries and surgeries that have affected his singles ambitions, though his doubles partnership with Kyrgios has been a consistent bright spot for fans.[3][5]
If you’d like, I can pull the very latest headlines from additional outlets or summarize the implications for his upcoming schedule (e.g., potential doubles entries and scheduling at events after January 2026). I can also provide a concise timeline of his injury history and tournament participation from 2024–2026.
Citations:
Thanasi Kokkinakis did not expect a first-round doubles match at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ could move him to tears.
www.atptour.comThanasi Kokkinakis announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open singles event on Thursday. The Australian hopes to compete in the doubles event, which he won in 2022 with Nick Kyrgios.
www.atptour.comThanasi Kokkinakis withdrew from the Adelaide International Wednesday due to a right shoulder injury. The Australian's scheduled opponent, 2025 Shanghai champion Valentin Vacherot, advances to the quarter-finals.
www.atptour.comThanasi Kokkinakis's tears after a doubles match told the story as the injury-plagued Australian won in his latest and most dramatic return to the sport alongside old mate Nick Kyrgios.
www.espn.com.au