Kyrgios, Kokkinakis aim for second Australian Open Doubles crown

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis will combine to contest the Australian Open doubles in January 2025.

The Australian duo entered the event in 2022 and defied tennis betting odds, making an unlikely run to the title under the moniker ‘the Special Ks’.

Now, with Kokkinakis in a rich vein of form and Kyrgios returning to the ATP Tour after a two-year layoff, the Aussie pair will seek to do it all again.

“Everyone loved it last time — we loved it last time,” Kokkinakis said.

“It was so much fun.

“It’s definitely not going to be the priority for us, but we feel that we owe it to people to get back out there and have some fun.”

While Kokkinakis is ranked just No.77 in the world, the 28-year-old had a strong second half of the 2024 season, claiming upsets over top-30 players Ben Shelton, Arthur Fils, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

He believes that compatriot Kyrgios is also going to hit the ground running when he returns to the ATP Tour, and has what it takes to push for the singles title.

“His body is in good nick, which I’m sure it will be [when the Australian Open starts],” he said.

“He’s always a dangerous threat.

“It’s great for fans in Australia and fans all over the world.

“He’s (Kyrgios) is a different cat.

“He obviously has a different energy about him and he’s a hell of a player.”

Kyrgios has suffered a plethora of injuries that have meant the 29-year-old has played just three matches since making the quarter-finals of the US Open in 2022.

However, the top online bookmakers are high on the former world No.13’s title chances, considering his inactivity.

Marantelli Bet has Kyrgios on the eighth line of betting at $41, alongside the likes of Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and Fils.

Jannik Sinner ($2.75), Carlos Alcaraz ($3.40) and Novak Djokovic ($4) lead tennis betting odds ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam, which begins on Sunday, January 12, in Melbourne.

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