'HE HAS TO THINK HARD': KOKKINAKIS GIVEN REALITY CHECK BY FORMER AUSSIE NO.1

Former doubles world No.1 Todd Woodbridge didn't hold back when asked about Thanasi Kokkinakis' Australian Open preparation after opting to capitalise on a cash grab.

Kokkinakis was forced to withdraw from his quarter-final at the Adelaide International earlier this week, a tournament he won in 2022, picking up a shoulder injury after winning two three-set matches.

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Before entering Adelaide, the 28-year-old pulled the pin on Brisbane due to sustaining a hip issue.

Despite a physically demanding 2024 season, Kokkinakis chose to compete in an exhibition event in Russia last month.

Woodbridge, a well-renowned commentator and 16-time Grand Slam doubles champion, questioned Kokkinakis' decisions.

"Scheduling is a really interesting thing with him," Woodbridge said while appearing on the Wide World of Sports' 'The Morning Serve'.

"He has to think hard about what he's going to do to get the best tennis career out of himself. At the back end of the year, he's played Challengers and then went and played exhibition matches that he didn't need to do.

"Yes the money's great and we all love putting that in our pocket and that's exactly what he did, but that schedule hurts to start the year."

Earlier in Alex de Minaur's career, he made the mistake of burning himself out during the lead-in to the first Grand Slam of the year.

In 2020, the Sydneysider withdrew from the event due to an abdominal tear.

The world No.8 has learned from his past mistakes, and Woodbridge believes Kokkinakis should follow suit if he is to manage his body in the best way possible.

"He needed to get some really big work in, maybe get to Brisbane, play that, he pulled out of Brisbane," Woodbridge said.

"He always plays well in Adelaide, that's the home town, he loves it there, but the problem is when you go that hard that early, it wears you out for here.

"Now that's something that Alex de Minaur has done on a number of occasions over the past five years. He's learned to change that schedule, now he's got the week off prior and that has allowed him over the past 12 months to go deep in all the majors and that is something Thanasi needs to think about."

Kokkinakis has been drawn against Roman Safiullin in the first-round at Melbourne Park, commencing later this afternoon on KIA Arena.

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