He wakes up each day with a stiff shoulder that eventually loosens, but so far, there is no pain in his pectoral muscle after matches.<\/p>\n
\u2018If someone recommended me not to do it, I just blacklisted them.\u2019<\/p>\n
Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis<\/p>\n
Whether Kokkinakis\u2019 pectoral problems are behind him will crystallise in the months and years ahead, but he will know far sooner about his Australian Open chances.<\/p>\n
He is in the draw thanks to a protected ranking, owing to him not playing for so long, but will use the Adelaide International \u2013 in the city he grew up in before relocating to Melbourne \u2013 to gauge if he is ready to step back into the grand slam cauldron.<\/p>\n
The ideal result is to find himself in, and win, a gruelling three-set singles battle because he will learn if he can physically back it up.<\/p>\n
That will determine if Kokkinakis contests the singles event at the Australian Open. He admits he is more motivated to play because it is his favourite time of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I also can\u2019t forget the reason I did the surgery, which is to not just make up the numbers,\u201d Kokkinakis said. \u201cI want to be able to play a match, and know that I can play the next one healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Thanasi](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/8bfacb87c993fff3809dca904b784a4f1691b52b.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Thanasi Kokkinakis grimaces in pain and feels his injured pec during a practice session at last year\u2019s Australian Open.Credit: Chris Hopkins<\/p>\n
Even if Kokkinakis decides to play at the Open, which starts next Sunday, he is asking for patience because he does not expect to be near his best until at least mid-year.<\/p>\n
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What he does know is that he is not satisfied with what he has achieved, from a best ranking of No.65 to never advancing beyond the third round at a grand slam, which he managed three times at Roland-Garros.<\/p>\n
Persistent injuries have contributed to a player who boasts three top-10 scalps \u2013 Milos Raonic (2017), Roger Federer (2018) and Andrey Rublev (2023) \u2013 not realising his potential. Kokkinakis also points to his victories over stars Ben Shelton, Jakub Mensik and Arthur Fils late in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d say most of the tour would probably agree on that,\u201d Kokkinakis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, I want to break top 50. Does my career change, mentally, if I end up 49 or 50 in the world, as opposed to a career-high 65? Probably not.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I can make some runs, and I\u2019ve beaten too many good guys to not give myself a chance. But I can\u2019t do it forever. I\u2019ve got five more years, at best. I\u2019m going to try and leave no stone unturned, and that was part of my decision going into the surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n