Australian tennis great Wally Masur says Thanasi Kokkinakis is a strong chance of beating Stan Wawrinka in their Roland-Garros showdown — and has thrown a light-hearted jab at the Swiss champion’s waistline.
When Australian wildcard Kokkinakis meets the three-time singles grand slam champion in the second round of the Paris major, it’ll mark the first-ever ATP match between the two men.
“I reckon this is not a bad draw for Thanasi,” Masur said on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily.
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“We know that Stan is a champion, he’s been a great player for a lot of years.
“But … you look at Stan’s midriff — he’s carrying a couple of kilos.”
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Wawrinka had a golden run between 2014 and 2016, winning the Australian Open, Roland-Garros and the US Open.
But the former world No.3 hasn’t advanced beyond the quarter-finals of a major since the Roland-Garros tournament of 2017.
In 2022, he fell to as low as 322nd in the rankings on the back of a foot injury that required two surgeries and, reflecting on his physical struggles, has admitted to thinking he would never compete again.
Wawrinka is ranked 89th on the cusp of his match against Kokkinakis, who’s ranked 108th.
Wawrinka defeated Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-7 (2), 1-6, 6-4 in the first round at Roland-Garros, while Kokkinakis overcame Great Britain’s Dan Evans 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
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Kokkinakis’ win was his first singles victory in the main draw of a Roland-Garros tournament since 2015, when he defeated Bernard Tomic.
“I don’t feel too bad about Thanasi’s chances going forward,” Masur added.
Kokkinakis breezes through Roland-Garros opener
Tension has long lingered between Kokkinakis and Wawrinka, but by no doing of their own.
Nick Kyrgios fired an infamous sledge at Wawrinka during a Canadian Cup match in 2015, saying: “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate.”
The dirty sledge referred to Kokkinakis and Croatian star Donna Vekic, who had played mixed doubles with Kokkinakis and later dated Wawrinka.
In the same match against Wawrinka, Kyrgios also said, “He’s banging a 19-year-old”.
A fuming Wawrinka confronted Kyrgios in the locker room after the match and the story became folklore on the ATP Tour.
Kyrgios was fined $13,580, slapped with a suspended one-match ban and apologised.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis are close mates and doubles partners.
They combined to win the men’s doubles title at the 2022 Australian Open.
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