Match Report
\n Kokkinakis battles pain, rallies past Korda for emotional Adelaide win<\/p>\n
Vacherot, Humbert, Opelka also advance at ATP 250<\/p>\n
January 12, 2026<\/p>\n
Sarah Reed\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Thanasi Kokkinakis overcomes Sebastian Korda in three sets on Monday in Adelaide.
\n By Andy West<\/p>\n
Thanasi Kokkinakis<\/a> made a stunning comeback after a difficult 12 months with an emotional first-round victory on Monday at the Adelaide International<\/a>. <\/p>\n Playing his first singles match since the 2025 Australian Open<\/a>, after which he underwent a radical surgery on his pectoral muscle, Kokkinakis rallied to a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) triumph at his hometown ATP 250. Kokkinakis appeared to be feeling pain in his shoulder and received treatment from the physio during the second set against Korda, but the 29-year-old pushed through to a thrilling two-hour, 26-minute win. <\/p>\n \u201cOh man. It\u2019s been a rough 12 months, but this makes it all worth it,\u201d said Kokkinakis in his on-court interview. \u201cI had my eye on this in Adelaide, and I knew I\u2019d come to a packed crowd and everyone cheering. Thank you so much, I love it here.\u201d <\/p>\n You May Also Like: \u2018DJ Kokkinakis\u2019 talks time off Tour as he prepares to headline Adelaide\u2019s main stage<\/a><\/p>\n The Adelaide crowd was vociferous throughout in its support for Kokkinakis, who lifted his only ATP Tour title at Memorial Drive in 2022. There was concern for the home hero in the second set, when he wobbled after opening a 5-1 lead, and he later acknowledged that his singles comeback was not without cost. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something that I feel like I\u2019ve been dealing with my whole career it feels like,\u201d said Kokkinakis of the injury. \u201cI\u2019ve worked so hard to even give myself a chance to get back on this court. Second set I hit a serve and it didn\u2019t feel great. I was talking to my team every two minutes about whether I should stop. I felt like, \u2018Even if I win, at what cost?\u2019 I don\u2019t know. I always try and win, especially here in Adelaide. I don\u2019t know if I can go any further, but I love it here so I\u2019m trying my best.\u201d <\/p>\n And the crowd goes wild! \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f@TKokkinakis<\/a> comes from a set down to defeat Korda and claim his first win since undergoing surgery in February 2025.@AdelaideTennis<\/a> | #AdelaideTennis<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/GmxEIagRmT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) January 12, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Monday\u2019s victory was Kokkinakis\u2019 first in four Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with the No. 51 in the PIF ATP Rankings Korda. Awaiting the Australian in the second round will be fifth seed Valentin Vacherot<\/a>. The Monegasque star, who stunned the tennis world last October by winning the Rolex Shanghai Masters<\/a> as a qualifier, overcame Miomir Kecmanovic<\/a> 7-6(5), 6-4. <\/p>\n Like Vacherot, Ugo Humbert<\/a> bounced back from a first-round exit in Brisbane by claiming a straight-sets win in his Adelaide opener. The former World No. 13 prevailed 6-3, 7-6(3) in an all-French, all-lefty battle with Terence Atmane<\/a> to advance to face fourth seed Tallon Griekspoor<\/a>. <\/p>\n Reilly Opelka<\/a> and Jaume Munar<\/a> were also straight-sets winners on Monday. Opelka downed home favourite Alexei Popyrin<\/a> 6-3, 7-6(6) with the help of 22 aces, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and he will face his good friend and second seed Tommy Paul<\/a> for a quarter-final spot. Meanwhile Munar lost the first three games against Daniel Altmaier<\/a> but won the following 12 to prevail 6-3, 6-0 and set a meeting with third seed Francisco Cerundolo<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n