Kokkinakis comes from behind against Humbert in UTS Frankfurt
The Australian dethroned Ugo Humbert from the top spot in Group A standings
UTS Frankfurt
Thanasi Kokkinakis, nicknamed Kokki, staged an incredible comeback against Ugo Humbert, The Commander, in a Group A encounter of the 2024 UTS Frankfurt on Saturday at Suwag Energie Arena in Germany.
Kokkinakis came from behind after losing the first two quarters to win the match 12-17, 7-16, 15-11, 13-11, (2-1 Sudden Death).
“It was a tough start,” Kokki said after the win. “I was getting killed, it was kind of ugly, almost felt bad for the crowd. Hugo’s playing incredible so I had to try and weather the storm. I just went for my serve, some paid off, some didn’t. I had to go risky because when he’s playing groundstrokes, he’s incredible.
“I did not really know what to do in the sudden death. I went for the serve and I missed it. Then I was lucky that he missed his only backhand in the entire match. So he gave me a lifeline. Then I thought just don’t miss on match point and made it. It is crazy usually you have two win by two points. So to win by 2:1 is something else.”
First Quarter: The Commander wins eight points in a row
The Commander came out all guns blazing against Kokkinakis as he won eight points in a row after trailing 3-1.
The Aussie panicked and resorted to his bonus card but failed to cash in. He then recovered to reduce the deficit to 8-13, however, the Frenchman pulled out his bonus card and converted with a riveting forehand winner down the line.
Humbert then blew three quarter-points before sealing it on the fourth.
“He hit me pretty hard, I didn’t enjoy it too much,” Kokkinakis said after the quarter. “I gave a fist pump after his first double fault. It came back to bite me in the arse so I think I’ll just stay humble after that one.”
Second Quarter: Humbert keeps the pressure up
Humbert showed no mercy in the second quarter as well, racing to a 4-0 lead quickly to keep the pressure up on Kokkinakis.
With his back against the wall once again, the Australian used his bonus card trailing 5-10, but failed again. His opponent, on the other hand, came up with the goods on his opportunity to win three points at 12-7 and later closed the quarter with sizzling forehand winner down the line.
Third quarter: Humbert pulls out the underarm serve but kokki up for it
Kokkinakis turned the tables on The Commander in the third quarter, creating a 5-0 lead before the latter recovered to 5-3 and pulled out an underarm serve. The Aussie was up for the challenge as he dismissed Humbert’s trick by winning that point with his deft touch on the net.
The Aussie later strengthened his lead to 10-4, when the Frenchman decided to throw in the bonus card and succeeded in reducing the deficit to three points. However, Kokki wasted no time to use his bonus card and converted to take a 13-8 lead before securing the set.
Fourth quarter: Kokkinakis wins in sudden death
The fourth quarter began on a competitive note with nothing separating the two players till 4-4. But Humbert soon ups the ante by racing to 5-9 lead.
At this, Kokkinakis plays his bonus card and cuts the difference to one point. A couple of points later, the Frenchman decided to go for the kill at 10-11 and activated his bonus card only to throw it away with a service fault.
Kokkinakis then took the fourth quarter to force the Sudden Death, where he found himself staring at defeat after committing a fault on the first point. He, however, saved the match point and then converted the following to go top of the Group A.
