Kokkinakis Launches Emotional Comeback in Brisbane – Tennis Now

By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, January 4, 2026
Photo credit: Brisbane International Facebook

Water works rarely strike Thanasi Kokkinakis on court.

In the aftermath of Kokkinakis’ triumphant Brisbane doubles return with buddy Nick Kyrgios, he found himself on the verge of tears.

You’d be ready for a good cry too if you’d endured the agony Kokkinakis has experienced in recent years.

Armed with the body part of a dead man, Kokkinakis took the first step toward renewed tennis life. 

Four years after Kyrgios and Kokkinaks won the Australian Open doubles title the pair partnered to edge Matthew Ebden and Rajeev Ram 5-7, 6-4, 10-8 in their Brisbane opener.

It was Kokkinakis’ first win since undergoing experimental surgery in a last-ditch effort to repair an injury that’s derailed his career for years.

The 29-year-old Aussie underwent a revolutionary surgery last February to try to repair a chronic pectoral issue and revive his tennis career.

Surgeons cut scar tissue and part of his chronically ruptured pectoral muscle out. Then they grafted the Achilles of a dead man into his arm, attaching his pectoral to his shoulder in an effort to supply strength and support—and potentially revive his career. 

“I essentially cut half my pec off. I had a bald scar tissue that I was playing with for five or so years,” Kokkinakis told the media in Brisbane after the doubles win. “Saw a bunch of surgeons that didn’t want to operate on it. They thought it’s risky. Never been done in tennis. 

“Yeah, essentially have an Achilles allograft or a dead person’s Achilles in my arm trying to attach my pec to my shoulder. It’s really hard kind of coming back from that process, because you don’t really have anyone to speak to because no one’s done it. A lot of people do ACLs and Achilles ruptures, which are brutal, terrible injuries, but with those, a lot of people have had them, so you kind of know who to speak to and what to do.”

The former world No. 65 says since this surgery has never been attempted on a professional tennis player before, so there’s no guarantee it will work.

However, after suffering years of what he called “physical torture” due to the chronic injury, Kokkinakis said “it’s a risk I took knowing that it might not be a chance.”

Recovery from surgery has been an up and down road, but Kokkinakis is hoping he can continue this comeback journey.

“This one, I’m kind of gauging how we go,” Kokkinakis said. “There’s been days where it’s okay and other days where I’m, like, There’s no chance I’m playing again. 

“Yeah, to be on the court, especially with Nick, was a special feeling, and yeah, it’s been a very rocky road this year, and I’m trying to take it one day at a time.

 “I have done a lot of training to try and get myself in a position where I can even play a doubles match. It’s been very stop/start. I don’t know how my future is going to go, what it holds, but I’ve done everything I can to give myself at least a chance. Yeah, I’m taking it day by day.”

The emotional return comes four years after Kokkinakis captured his lone singles title before home fans in Adelaide. Kyrgios, who has battled his own injuries, said he’s impressed by his friend’s level of play given Kokkinakis’ pain and prolonged absence from the pro circuit.

“I understand how emotional it can be. I think people underestimate how much work actually, just because we are not playing full schedules, they underestimate how much work actually goes into it,” Kyrgios said. “I think arguably you’re on top of your load management more, getting more physio, you don’t really know how to train and prepare. 

“As he said, there’s no one you can really go to for advice on certain injuries. It’s been something he’s had to deal with his whole career pretty much, and, like, the fact of seeing him out there, we were really surprised with our level, to be honest. It didn’t look like we had been away from the game for — it’s been a year, pretty much, for Thanasi. We have gone through and we’re playing two guys who are probably some of the best doubles players still out there.”

Last January, Kokkinakis tested British No. 1 Jack Draper to five sets at the Australian Open before the injury required him to shut down his season and undergo surgery.

In these early days of his comeback, Kokkinakis said he can hit his groundstrokes without pain though he’s not yet able to serve at full strength.

 “It went as good as I could have hoped for what I’ve done. I can’t remember the last doubles match I’ve played,” Kokkinakis said. “I’m not counting our last one in Australia. I don’t remember my last doubles match before that. 

“I reckon I can almost count them on one hand the last three years. So to come there and to not be serving at full capacity just yet, I think it’s going to take a few months until I’m back to hopefully normal. I know I’m a long way from my best, but to be able to produce that after not playing probably surprised us, surprised us both.”

This Australian homecoming left Kokkinakis near tears—and thrilled with gratitude by the prospect of playing again.

“Endless injections, cortisones, trying to get myself to a spot where I can take the court,” Kokkinakis said. “All my rehab and everything I was doing was focused to try to get back in front of a crowd in Australia and being competitive.

“So yeah, I’m really, really happy.”