"First year we took it serious" - Kokkinakis & Kyrgios ready to succeed in Turin
ATP
Thanasi Kokkinakis said that he and Nick Kyrgios really tried to succeed on the doubles court for the first time this year, and the results speak for them.
Kokkinakis is ready to compete in the doubles event at the 2022 ATP Finals, but he misses one important person to be able to do so. The Australian is in Turin without his doubles partner and good friend Kyrgios.
Since Kyrgios played an exhibition event with Cameron Norrie in Mexico, he traveled to Turin a bit later than his doubles partner. Because of that, Kyrgios missed the vast majority of the media duties, and his partner sat alone in the press room, joking about the 2022 Wimbledon finalist's absence.
"Hopefully, he comes at some point. Hopefully, he comes before the first match starts. That would help. We pretty much only play singles together. We try to serve well and use our singles strengths against the doubles guys."
Kokkinakis also spoke about their unique approach to doubles as they are the only team at the 2022 ATP Finals that isn't purely a doubles pairing, as they both focus mostly on singles. He thinks they have a chance to succeed.
"We've gotten better. We never really did well in doubles, on the main tour anyway but we did well and played with great energy. When we're relaxed and having fun, we play better. We pick the right moments to be focused and serious but I think when we're having fun and relaxed, we play really well."
"It's always good playing with a friend first. We've known each other since we were nine or ten years old but this is the first year we took it serious and tried to win."
"I definitely think we're capable but everyone's capable here. Everyone's won Masters or big tournaments. It's not easy. It's a little bit different."
