Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia has officially withdrawn from the US Open, prior to his anticipated first-round match against Spain’s Rafael Jodar. This decision comes after Kokkinakis sustained an ankle injury during a tournament in Cincinnati last month.

The 30-year-old player is focused on achieving full fitness in time for the upcoming Australian summer tennis season. Reflecting on his situation, Kokkinakis expressed concerns that he may have played his final US Open without even stepping onto the court, due to ongoing physical setbacks that have plagued his career.

Having missed the opportunity to compete against the promising young player Jodar, Kokkinakis acknowledged the frustration stemming from a decade of injuries affecting various parts of his body, including his back, shoulder, abdomen, knee, and arm. He shared his thoughts with AAP, stating, “It is a possibility for sure,” when asked if this could be the end of his US Open journey.

Despite the setbacks, Kokkinakis remains optimistic about his tennis abilities, asserting, “I feel like the tennis part, I’ve still got a lot of good tennis left in me.” He believes that his limited appearances have demonstrated his competitiveness against top players.

However, he expressed his weariness with entering tournaments while not feeling physically prepared, noting the constant inquiries about his physical condition from others. Kokkinakis utilized the fifth of his nine injury-protected ranking entries to gain entry into the US Open draw.

Looking ahead, the former victor against Roger Federer is now focused on his recovery process, aiming to be in peak condition for the Australian summer. “I want to go into it being confident in myself and, if I do win, give myself a chance to back up and try and play again,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of feeling strong and prepared.

Kokkinakis concluded by expressing his intent to give his best effort in future tournaments and assess his performance moving forward.