Thanasi Kokkinakis will face Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the 2023 Indian Wells and he's excited to face a player whose game he loves.
Alcaraz took the ATP by storm last year and he gained many fans along the way. Kokkinakis counts himself among them as the Australian simply loves how the Spaniard approaches and plays tennis. He's not the only one who thinks that way as many see Alcacaraz as the face of tennis for the next decade. Kokkinakis believes he has a shot as he revealed in an interview with ATPTour.com.
“I just like the way he plays. He’s got good firepower, he’s lightning quick, he’s got good hands. I saw it a few years ago just watching some highlights of him. It’s so hard to eclipse what those legends have done in our sports with how many Slams they’ve won, but he’s definitely capable and I think he’s got a shot if he stays healthy for sure.”
He'll have a chance to test him out on the court himself later today and it's going to be something enjoyable. Alcaraz brings a lot of energy to his matches and that's how Kokkinakis approaches tennis too, as he showed in the first round in Indian Wells. It should be a spectacle.
It’s not just that he’s got no weaknesses, but he just plays with great energy. He plays tennis the right way. He’s always up and about, he’s always smiling. I think the crowd loves watching him because his energy is almost contagious. He’s one of my favourite players to watch. Whenever he’s playing, I try to tune in if I’ve got time."
Despite being the huge underdog, there is little fear for Thanasi. He believes in his game and knows that it's really hard to counter when he brings it. Being able to compete is simply a privilege for him and he's going to enjoy that.
"I know my game, when it’s at my best, is capable of beating a lot of guys. But I also know that consistency is the thing I struggle with, so I’m hoping to match up with the best players this year and hopefully knock a few off and see how well I can do and push far this year."
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