Thanasi Kokkinakis has made a winning return to the ATP Tour after a difficult period on the injury sidelines.
Kokkinakis had only played five singles matches since the start of the 2025 season, having undergone pectoral surgery in February last year.
After a year on the sidelines, Kokkinakis returned to the ATP Tour at the Adelaide International.
However, Kokkinakis struggled with a right shoulder injury on his return and was forced to withdraw from Australian Open singles, and had not played a match until making his comeback at an ATP Challenger tournament in Zagreb.
Thanasi Kokkinakis qualifies for ATP Challenger tournament in Zagreb
Kokkinakis is the current world number 892, which is his lowest ranking since 2017, but he does have a protected ranking of 84 which has enabled him to enter the French Open directly.
However, the Australian did not use his protected ranking to make his return at the ATP Challenger tournament in Zagreb, with Kokkinakis instead taking a wildcard into the qualifying draw.
Kokkinakis made a winning return to the match court, beating the seventh seed in qualifying, Daniel Michalski, 7-6(3), 6-3.
This was Kokkinakis’ first win in four months, and he was able to back it up after coming from a set down to beat Michele Ribecai 6(2)-7, 6-3, 6-0.
Kokkinakis has now booked his spot in the main draw of the ATP Challenger tournament in the Croatian capital.
Can anyone now stop Jannik Sinner from winning Roland Garros after Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal?
If yes, who?
Where would Thanasi Kokkinakis be ranked if he wins the title in Zagreb?
Not only is Kokkinakis attempting to make his return to match fitness, but he will also be hoping to climb back up the rankings.
Kokkinakis has been ranked as high as world number 65, but he is currently outside the top 800.
The 30-year-old is at world number 854 in the live rankings after coming through qualifying, and Kokkinakis could even break back into the top 500 if he wins his first Challenger title since October 2024.
| Zagreb Open 2026 | Live ATP ranking |
| First Round | No.854 |
| Second Round | No.789 |
| Quarterfinal | No.733 |
| Semifinal | No.664 |
| Final | No.539 |
| Title | No.441 |
Kokkinakis has been drawn to play against 18-year-old Yannick Alexandrescou in his first round match at the Zagreb Challenger.
If he is able to overcome the Frenchman then Kokkinakis could play seventh seed August Holmgren.
