Thanasi Kokkinakis is set to make a highly anticipated return to the ATP Tour, but this time, he's not stepping onto the court for a tennis match. Instead, he's gearing up to take the stage in Adelaide, blending his athletic prowess with a newfound passion for music. In an exclusive interview, Kokkinakis reveals his unexpected journey from tennis court to DJ decks, and the challenges he faced during his 12-month hiatus from the Tour.
The DJ Decks and PlayStation
While many athletes explore new hobbies during breaks from their sport, Kokkinakis' path to discovering his musical side was a bit more unconventional. He shared, "I bought some DJ decks early on and played them for a month or two. But then I forgot about that and got addicted to PlayStation, which I used to play a lot. I played NBA2K, and I get pretty competitive there. I'd get online, put on my headset, and when people talk some rubbish to me, I'd give a bit back! So, that was my way of trying to be competitive."
Music and Tennis: A Crossover History
This isn't the first time a tennis player has ventured into the music industry. From Ugo Humbert's piano dabblings to Yannick Noah's pop career and Jannik Sinner's collaboration with Andrea Bocelli, the ATP Tour has seen its fair share of musical crossover. However, Kokkinakis is quick to clarify that he's not ready to release a track anytime soon, joking, "I'm a long way off [releasing a track], that's probably post-career, I think! I learned the basic fundamentals, but then taking a step up, I didn’t quite have the focus for it. We’ll see. It’s harder than I thought."
A Challenging 12 Months
The 29-year-old's time away from the Tour was marked by a significant health challenge. Last February, Kokkinakis underwent a radical surgery, rarely performed on tennis players, to repair damaged tissue in his right pectoral muscle. This surgery, coupled with the isolation of being in one place for an extended period, made his 12-month hiatus particularly challenging. He explained, "It’s definitely tricky. You get itchy feet a little bit, being in the same place. Obviously, it’s different being home [in Adelaide], which is okay, but if you’re in another place for longer, when you’re used to only being there for one or max two weeks when you’re on Tour, [it's hard]."
Staying Engaged During Hiatus
Despite the frustration of being unable to compete, Kokkinakis didn't completely disengage from the tennis world. He watched tennis here and there, but wasn't following it closely all the time. He also stayed in touch with friends on the Tour, mainly Aussies, sending them messages when they had good results. He even reached out to Jack Draper, who he was supposed to face in the Adelaide quarter-finals a year ago before withdrawing due to his injury.
Looking Ahead: A Cautiously Optimistic Return
As Kokkinakis prepares for his comeback match against Sebastian Korda, he's cautiously optimistic but realistic about the risks he took with his surgery. He used an Achille allograft to attach his pectoral muscle to his shoulder. He shared, "Just being back and getting to this point is not even something I was sure of. Now I don’t know if I can get through a match, or get through a couple of matches, I really don’t know, because I haven’t played. I’ve done everything training-wise to give myself a chance to be here, and that in itself is a win."
The tennis world eagerly awaits Kokkinakis' return, not just for his athletic prowess but also for the intriguing blend of sports and music that he brings to the table. Will he make the leap from DJ decks to the music industry? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Thanasi Kokkinakis is back, and he's ready to rock the ATP Tour in a whole new way.
