Australian hometown favorite and reigning champion Thanasi Kokkinakis was eliminated from the Adelaide International after a defeat in the first round to Serbian player Dušan Lajović.
After a lackluster start, Lajović stepped up his game as the evening progressed and ultimately defeated his opponent with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, much to the disappointment of the Memorial Drive audience.
Kokkinakis’ loss signifies that he has not won a match since October of last year. He was unable to compete in the Davis Cup finals due to an ankle injury and upon his return to the court in Brisbane last week, he was defeated in the first round by fellow countryman Rinky Hijikita.
Kokkinakis announced himself with his thrilling, emotional ride to the 2022 title here as a wildcard, which included a dramatic final-set tie-break to beat Marin Cilic in the semi-finals, but his dreams of replicating that feat ended on Monday, Lajović’s superior consistency from the back of the court telling.
“I felt like I performed well and had a good first set of tennis. I didn’t make many mistakes,” Kokkinakis stated.
“I had a momentary lapse of concentration at the beginning of the second [period/game]. Although I wish I could have performed better, I am still not at the level I want to be.”
Kokkinakis started the match with confidence, his initial serve proving difficult for Lajović to return in the first set. However, Lajović eventually found his rhythm.
The player from South Australia made a powerful comeback, earning the first break of the match and taking a 3-1 lead. They continued to impress by winning the first set when their opponent hit a backhand shot too long.
However, Lajović, who previously surprised fellow countryman Novak Djokovic on Bosnian clay in the previous year, was not going to be an easy opponent.
Kokkinakis struggled with errors in the second set, possibly due to the softer balls, and Lajović capitalized on this weakness.
After the player from South Australia made an error on his forehand and lost his serve in the fourth game, Lajović managed to break his serve again in the sixth game, scoring all points and then hitting a winning forehand shot to tie the match and force a third set.
Kokkinakis was trailing by a break in the final set, but managed to break back three games later with an impressive forehand winner down the line that pleased the audience.
He kept his fans on the edge of their seats as he fought back from a 0-40 disadvantage to successfully hold and take a 4-3 lead.
Lajovic managed to hold on tightly before once again breaking Kokkinakis and finishing the game flawlessly with a powerful forehand, ultimately securing the win.
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Kokkinakis expressed his dissatisfaction with the tennis balls being too soft after the defeat, likening them to “lemons”.
He stated that the balls he used helped neutralize his powerful serve and were the gentlest ones he had ever used, apart from the ones at last year’s Cincinnati Masters.
“I recall this place used to be much faster,” he remarked.
“I am not accustomed to serving only four aces, especially on a fast-playing surface. When the balls slow down significantly, it feels like there is a lot of time to return them.”
“They were generally much slower compared to last year, with the exception of Cincinnati.”
“After several volleys, the balls slow down significantly and become less responsive. This can be challenging, particularly in cooler temperatures, when trying to generate power with the ball.”
Although he was visibly irritated by the balls, Kokkinakis believed that the loss of the match was due to his own performance with his racquet, particularly in the decisive second set.
He stated that he did not believe it was him who played incredibly in the second set.
“He remained consistent, displaying professionalism and grit. Although it appears to be a 6-1 set, it was simply due to my lack of focus. I felt that the outcome was largely dependent on my performance – a few errors on my part turned the match into a battle.”
“My greatest weakness, to be frank, is that when I am performing well, I tend to become complacent. I may even attempt risky shots that are not feasible and lose concentration.”
“It altered the entire course of the game.”
Source: theguardian.com
