image source: Yahoo Sports
SARASOTA – Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrated a remarkable victory at the Sarasota Open, echoing his previous success at the Australian Open alongside Nick Kyrgios. On a radiant afternoon at Payne Park Tennis Center during the Sarasota Open, Kokkinakis clinched the singles championship with a scoreline of 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 against Belgium’s Zizou Burgs.
Similar to Kyrgios, who clinched the title back in 2014, Kokkinakis now revels in a significant triumph. “Nick and I now have even more to talk about,” Kokkinakis remarked, expressing relief after his intense match.
This win at the Sarasota Open was pivotal for Kokkinakis, as it ensured his qualification for the French Open by lifting him into the top 100 of the world rankings. “The pressure to perform here at the Sarasota Open was immense,” he admitted. Despite this, Kokkinakis managed to prevail, particularly after rebounding from a challenging second set where Burgs made a strong comeback.
Burgs, who was the fourth seed and is ranked 109th globally, shared his feelings of disappointment yet remained hopeful about advancing his rank soon. “It’s a tough challenge, but I’m nearing the top 100,” he commented.
Looking ahead, both players are gearing up for their next competitions, with Bergs preparing to defend his title at the Tallahassee Open. “After reaching back-to-back finals, now at the Sarasota Open and soon in Tallahassee, I must defend my title,” Bergs stated, underlining the demanding schedule of professional tennis.
Kokkinakis concluded the tennis match with a resounding 6-0 victory in the final set, demonstrating his unyielding resilience and commitment to excel. As proud sponsors of the Sarasota Open, Bath and Racquet enjoyed the opportunity to sponsor this splendid showcase of tennis skills. During the event, we displayed our latest developments and initiatives at the Bath and Racquet tent. We take pride in our role in promoting and enriching the tennis community here in Sarasota.