Kokkinakis ready to be the “glue” for Team World at Laver Cup
The Australian sees his role on the sideline as crucial at the upcoming Laver Cup
Thanasi Kokkinakis (Credit: Imago/Panoramic)
Six years after first getting called up for Laver Cup duties, Thanasi Kokkinakis is returning to represent Team World this week in Berlin.
When the event first debuted, back in 2017 in Prague, Kokkinakis was selected as an alternate. Now, the Australian is back, but he has a very different role to play on the sidelines now.
“Hopefully we can get rowdy,” declared the 28-year-old ahead of day one of Laver Cup action on Friday.
“I love having fun and hopefully just trying to make everyone feel good. I’m pretty open to talk. I like having a bit more fun with my mates on the sidelines.”
Kokkinakis, ranked No 78 in the world, sees himself as a “glue player” for Team World. Given the team nature of the event, he believes that keeping spirits high and being someone who the team can rely on for communication on the sidelines is crucial.
Kokkinakis hunting Laver Cup upsets
There are some who will say the Aussie is selling himself short though – namely Stefanos Tsitsipas, who Kokkinakis upset first round at the US Open last month.
Consistency has never been a strong point for the Australian, but recent months have seen him carve out a name from himself as a giant-killer.
As well as Tsitsipas, Gael Monfils, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alexei Popyrin have all fallen to the wiley Kokkinakis this season.
“I’ve got to do my job on the court,” he explained.
“That’s everything, the format lends itself to the last day being the most important with the most points at stake. Every point is important.”
Team World will need to channel some of Kokkinakis’ upset energy this year, as they are up against a stacked Team Europe lineup.
While Team World have just the one top 10 player in Taylor Fritz, all but one of Team Europe’s squad are in the top 10 – and the only exception is Tsitsipas, who has been a regular fixture in tennis’ elite for years.
