‘This ranks number one’ – Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis win Australian Open doubles
Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis both won their maiden Grand Slam when they won the Australian Open doubles, both have said it is the best moment of their careers.
After an all-Australian final at the Australian Open doubles, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis breezed past Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in straight sets 7-5 6-4 to win their maiden Grand Slams.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, dubbed the ‘Special K’s’ have lit up the ‘Happy Slam’ doubles, bringing a flair and flamboyancy the fans were quick to get behind.
The Australian duo also impressively beat the top ranked doubles partnership in the world in Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic in straight sets in the second round.
The ‘Special K’s’ run to the title wasn’t without controversy and entertainment however. After their win against Mektic and Pavic, a Croatian fitness coach offered to fight Kyrgios in the player gym after he thought the Australians were being disrespectful during the match.
Moreover, in their quarter-final victory over German Tim Putz and New Zealander Michael Venus, Venus branded Kyrgios “an absolute knob” for his on-court antics.
In the post-match press conference, Kyrgios said “I have won some big titles around the world, played some amazing matches. This one ranks [number] one for me.
“When I say I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else [than Kokkinakis], I mean it. It was just special. The whole week, winning each round, I didn’t take it for granted. I was soaking it in.”
Similarly, Kokkinakis said “Comparing to what I have gone through in the years I have had the past few years, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
“Adelaide was number one for me, but this has trumped it.
“To be a Grand Slam champion with my boy (Krygios) — we have known each other since we were eight, nine years old, done some serious things together, have had some serious experiences — but this is incredible. We didn’t expect this at all.”
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