Washington, United States, 31 July 2024 | Dan Imhoff
Thanasi Kokkinakis has set an all-Australian second-round showdown with 14th seed Aleksandar Vukic on the Washington ATP 500 occasion after overcoming cramping compatriot Max Purcell on Wednesday.
The world No.91 bounced again 6-7(4) 6-4 6-3 in a two-hour, 15-minute conflict towards the 59th-ranked Sydneysider, who was unable to finish the ultimate level of the match attributable to extreme cramping.
After saving two match factors on serve at 3-5 within the deciding set, Purcell rolled in a serve earlier than he hunched over unable proceed after his proper hand seized up.
The 2 had been capable of share a light-hearted second at internet when Kokkinakis shook Purcell’s little finger and helped unfurl his hand from across the racquet.
All smiles within the warmth of the battle 🔥
Thanasi Kokkinakis defeats compatriot Purcell 6-7 6-4 6-3 with Purcell sadly ending the match with hand cramps😮@mubadalacitidc pic.twitter.com/svkkI0hyAm
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 30, 2024
It was Kokkinakis’ first win since he saved 4 match factors to stun Felix Auger-Aliassime from two units down within the opening spherical at Wimbledon and his first match since he was pressured to retire with a knee harm within the second spherical at SW19 towards Lucas Pouille.
Chris O’Connell, in the meantime, was unable to again up his firt-round win over Harold Mayot. He fell to American 13th seed Brandon Nakashima 6-2 6-2.
Kokkinakis will look to increase his head-to-head file towards Vukic to 2-0 having additionally crushed him on arduous courtroom within the Adelaide quarterfinals en path to his maiden ATP title in 2022. The winner will tackle fourth seed Sebastian Korda within the quarterfinals.
Purcell managed to get well in time to return to courtroom later within the day when he and Jordan Thompson defeated countryman John-Patrick Smith and Colombian Diego Hidalgo 6-2 6-3.
The second seeds, looking for their fourth title collectively this yr, await seventh seeds Julian Money and Robert Galloway or wildcards Korda and Alex Michelsen for a semifinal berth.
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