Thanasi Kokkinakis’s bid to reach a fourth Australian Open main draw is alive and well after the world No.145 closed out a tricky second-round showdown with Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, booking his place in the final round of qualifying with a 6-4 7-6(4) victory.
Kokkinakis admitted to waking up in a funk on Thursday and having to drag an “average” performance from himself, but took the positives from his ability to win when not playing at full force.
“I knew I had to raise my bottom level, so when I’m not playing well I can grind wins,” said the 22-year-old. “When I had my ‘career-year’ – which felt like ages ago – that’s what I was doing well. It’s about concentration and focus; to play in front of people again, and have the spotlight on you, that’s match fitness in itself.”
MORE: All the results from Day 3 of AO 2019 qualifying
Kokkinakis will face Canadian No.10 seed Peter Polansky in the final round of qualifying after the Canadian came through a tight encounter with Blaz Rola, downing the Slovenian 6-2 6-7(6) 6-3.
Top seed Lorenzo Sonego will face Japanese opposition for the second match in succession in the third round, beating Yuichi Sugita 6-1 6-2 to set up a showdown with Tatsuma Ito. But No.2 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime was one of the day’s early casualties, beaten 7-6(4) 6-3 by American Christopher Eubanks, before No.3 seed Ricardas Berankis followed him to the exit, overturned 2-6 6-2 6-3 by China’s Zie Zhang.
Overall it was a good day for the US contingent, with Bjorn Fratangelo edging Stefano Napolitano 4-6 6-3 7-6(4) to set up a showdown with Zhang and Tim Smyczek advancing with easing past Pedja Krstin 6-3 6-2. But Tommy Paul went down to No.4 seed Paolo Lorenzi 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3, the Italian setting up a final-round clash with Great Britain’s Dan Evans.
Four Germans are through to the third round, with at least one guaranteed to reach the main draw after unseeded duo Oscar Otte and Rudolf Molleker downed seeded opposition. Otte overwhelmed No.9 seed Juan Ignacio Londero 6-2 6-2 while Molleker fought back against Ramkumar Ramanathan to prevail 5-7 7-5 7-6(6).
Dustin Brown also recovered from a set down to reach the final round, beating Marcelo Arevalo 2-6 6-4 6-2 to set up a clash with No.11 seed Lloyd Harris of South Africa.