Thanasi Kokkinakis, the world’s 84th ranked tennis player, has once again been pushed into the daunting world of surgical intervention. This time, it’s a pectoral muscle repair that has forced him into the operating room. Despite exploring all conceivable alternatives, the Australian tennis ace reached the inevitable conclusion that surgery was the only viable option.
Entering this year’s Australian tennis season, Kokkinakis was already grappling with the pectoral issue. Yet, he was determined not to miss out on the season he enjoys the most. Unfortunately, the injury proved to be a formidable adversary. He first had to bow out of the Adelaide quarterfinal, marking the beginning of his competitive season on a low note. Then came a disappointing defeat to Jack Draper in the second round of the Australian Open, followed by a forced retirement from his doubles match with Nick Kyrgios at Melbourne Park due to the same persistent injury.
Over the past six weeks, Kokkinakis has been actively seeking advice from medical professionals, exploring means to manage the injury. Ultimately, the recommendation was clear – surgery was the only way forward. Sharing his ordeal on Instagram, the 28-year-old said, “Been struggling for a little while with this… Probably my toughest challenge to date. I’ve been trying to find the answers to an ongoing Pec injury that I haven’t been able to fix. Let’s see how this goes. Thank you for all your ongoing support.”
Kokkinakis is no stranger to the harsh realities of physical injuries. The 2022 Adelaide champion’s career has been marred by a string of health issues since its very inception. He underwent shoulder surgery in 2015 and has struggled with groin, pectoral, and elbow problems early on in his career.
Post his participation in this year’s Australian Open, Kokkinakis hinted at the probability of another surgical procedure. He shared his concerns, stating, “The doctor advised me not to play and I’m going to need to do a serious procedure now, probably. I’ve got to speak to as many experts as I can, but I can’t serve, I can’t hit a high forehand and I’m in a lot of pain.”
As the tennis world watches, Kokkinakis faces his latest health challenge with courage and determination. Whether this surgery will be a game-changer for him remains to be seen. But one thing is clear – his fighting spirit remains undeterred.