The journey toward a new career high on the ATP Tour is on for Thanasi Kokkinakis but it won't be an easy one.
The 26-year-old qualified for the main draw of the 2023 Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open, after he defeated Matteo Arnaldi in the final of the qualifying, and Yuichi Sugita in the first round. Following his successful run, Kokkinakis learned the draw, which wasn't nice to him at all.
Kokkinakis, who was ranked 94th before the event started, would need to reach at least the quarterfinals, granting him 180 points, to improve his previous career-high, which was 69th place in the ATP Rankings.
But that won't be an easy task for the Australian. Although his first-round opponent is very playable, it's a nightmare after that. In the first round of the 2023 Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open, Kokkinakis will meet American wild card, Brandon Holt.
The two never met before as the 24-year-old Holt is attempting to establish his spot on the ATP Tour, following 51 wins and 5 ITF titles. But the American is still ranked only 193rd and Kokkinakis should be favourite against him.
If the Australian wins in the first round, his second-round opponent will be the best man in the draw, literally. The first-seeded Carlos Alcaraz awaits the 2022 Australian Open doubles champion, in what will prove to be a difficult test for Kokkinakis.
From then on, he can expect to face the likes of the 31st-seeded Tallon Griekspoor in the third round, and possibly Andy Murray, Pablo Carreno-Busta, or Daniel Evans in the fourth round.
In the quarterfinals, the Australian could meet no. 8, Felix Auger-Aliassime, or no. 9, Hubert Hurkacz, and his semifinal opponent could be anyone from Taylor Fritz to Holger Rune, if Kokkinakis reaches these stages.
In the final, it would be a possible meeting with Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, or Stefanos Tsitsipas in what is a brutal draw for the qualifier.
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