Thanasi Kokkinakis powers past Sebastian Korda for emotional win in Adelaide | ATP tour | Tennis

Match report

Kokkinakis battles pain and powers past Korda for an emotional win in Adelaide

Vacherot, Humbert and Opelka also advance to ATP 250
January 12, 2026

Thanasi Kokkinakis made a stunning comeback after a difficult 12 months with an emotional first-round win over Sebastian Korda at the Adelaide International on Monday.

In his first singles match since the 2025 Australian Open, after which he underwent radical surgery on his pectoral muscle, Kokkinakis rallied for 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) at the ATP 250 in his hometown. Kokkinakis appeared to feel pain in his shoulder and was treated by physio during the second set against Korda, but the 29-year-old pushed through in an exciting match. victory of two hours and 26 minutes.

“Oh man. It’s been a tough 12 months, but this makes it all worth it,” Kokkinakis said in his on-court interview. “I had my eye on this in Adelaide and I knew I was going to be in front of a packed crowd and everyone was cheering. Thank you so much, I love it here.”

The Adelaide crowd was vocal throughout in its support for Kokkinakis, who took his only ATP Tour title at Memorial Drive in 2022. There was concern for the home hero in the second set when he faltered after opening a 5-1 lead, and he later acknowledged his singles comeback did not come without a cost.

“It’s something that I feel like I’ve been dealing with my whole career,” Kokkinakis said of the injury. “I worked so hard to give myself a chance to get back on this court. In the second set I hit a serve and it didn’t feel great. I was talking to my team every two minutes about whether I should quit. I was like, ‘Even if I win, at what cost?’ I don’t know. I always try to win, especially here in Adelaide. I don’t know if I can go any further, but I love it here and I’m doing my best.”

And the crowd goes wild! 🗣️@TKokkinakis comes as he attempts to defeat Korda and claim his first win since undergoing surgery in February 2025.@AdelaideTennis | #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/GmxEIagRmT

— ATP tour (@atptour) January 12, 2026

Monday’s victory was Kokkinakis’ first in four Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with No. 51 in the PIF ATP Rankings Korda. The Australian awaits fifth seed Valentin Vacherot in the second round. The Monegasque star, who stunned the tennis world last October by winning the Rolex Shanghai Masters as a qualifier, defeated Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(5), 6-4.

Like Vacherot, Ugo Humbert bounced back from a first-round exit in Brisbane to claim a straight sets win in his Adelaide opener. The former world number 13 won 6-3, 7-6(3) in an all-French, all-left battle with Terence Atmane to advance against fourth seed Tallon Greekpoor.

Reilly Opelka and Jaume Munar were also straight set winners on Monday. Opelka defeated home favorite Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 7-6(6) with the help of 22 aces, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and will face his good friend and second seed Tommy Paul for a place in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Munar lost the first three matches against Daniel Altmaier but won the next 12 to triumph 6-3, 6-0 and set up a meeting with third seed Francisco Cerundolo.