Thanasi Kokkinakis says he experienced ‘mental, physical torture’ with injury during ‘annoying’ Draper defeat

Thanasi Kokkinakis was clearly suffering with injury and needed treatment during his marathon second-round match against Jack Draper. The Australian said afterwards that his ongoing pectoral muscle issues were giving him "physical and mental torture" and he would need some time out. The match against Britain's Draper was played in a raucous atmosphere in Melbourne and lasted nearly five hours.

Draper tells McEnroe post-match 'I had a little fun back' with pro-Kokkinakis crowd

Video credit: TNT Sports

Thanasi Kokkinakis says his ongoing pectoral muscle issues are giving him "physical and mental torture" as he lost an Australian Open five-setter to Jack Draper.

Britain's Draper came from behind to win 6-7(3) 6-3 3-6 7-5 6-3 and reach the third round in Melbourne.

Australian Kokkinakis needed to have treatment during his marathon match with Britain's Draper, and afterwards painted a bleak picture when he spoke to reporters.

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"My shoulder was gone before the match. I just tried to tough it out," he said. "I was touch-and-go again to play this week. I took a million painkillers to try and get through.

"I knew after I had some serious decisions to make, and I'm going to miss some time.

"I just tried to empty the tank today and for this week and see what I can do. I put myself in a winning position. I didn't have enough to get over, so that's annoying.

Draper wins brutal opening point against home favourite Kokkinakis

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Playing through the first one, playing through that one, I just know even if I win, at what cost? I know I'm going to be out for a while, I think. Yeah, I'm pretty flat.

"I've had a pretty bad pec tear there for a while. There's a lot of scar tissue build-up.

"Essentially, I can't play back-to-back intense matches no matter how much I train for it and try it. It's very deflating."

The match was played in a raucous atmosphere and thrilled the crowd for four hours and 35 minutes - it was the longest match of the tournament until the chaos of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina against Felix Auger-Aliassime unfolded.

When asked if surgery could fix the problem, Kokkinakis said: 'I don't know. There's no guarantees with surgery.

"I got told my shoulder surgery was going to be ready, I'd be healed up in three months. Ended up taking me a year and a half to get back.

"There's no guarantees with surgery. One thing is for sure: I can't keep doing what I'm doing. It's mental torture and physical torture."

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