Special Ks ‘pact’ revealed despite injury cloud as Frenchman fires Open broadside

As Thanasi Kokkinakis races against time to recover for the Australian Open, the rival of leading Aussie hopeful Alexei Popyrin has savaged tournament officials in Melbourne.

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Corentin Moutet is a talented yet feisty Frenchman who is renowned for his ability to create a headline with his behaviour on and off the court, as well as being particularly forthright when it comes to speaking his mind.

The left-hander, who had his funding cut-off by the French Tennis Federation in 2022 for antics including engaging in an on-court fight, has complained of bias against him at Melbourne Park over the past week.

Certain his clash with Popyrin – who last year joined Lleyton Hewitt, Pat Rafter and Mark Philippoussis as the only Australians to win a Masters series event – will be played in a big stadium at Melbourne Park, the Frenchman asked for a chance to train on a main court.

But Moutet, who defeated Popyrin at Challenger level three times but lost to him in the Monte Carlo Masters last year, posted on social media on Saturday that his requests have been ignored by Australian Open officials.

In a post on X, he said his request to train on one of Melbourne Park’s four main stadium courts had been knocked back for the past four days in contrast to the experience of Popyrin, who as a local contender has received priority use of stadium courts.

Kokkinakis, meanwhile, withdrew from the Adelaide International prior to a quarterfinal with a shoulder issue after winning a testing encounter against Tomas Etcheverry to his immense frustration.

The South Australian has a lengthy injury history which includes a lingering issue with his right pectoral, which is the region he reached for repeatedly during his three set victory over Etcheverry this week.

“I’ve felt better, to be honest. I’m pretty frustrated,” Kokkinakis said.

“Obviously pulling out last week was tough. I’m not sure how I’m going to go come (out on) Monday when I start. We’ll see. (I’ve) got a few things I need to work through. I’ll probably just leave it at that. I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know how I’m going to feel on Monday.”

Kokkinakis, who has drawn powerful Russian Roman Safiullin, is not the only Australian under an injury cloud.

Jordan Thompson withdrew from the Brisbane International with a foot issue, while Nick Kyrgios said last week he had an abdominal injury.

The 28-year-old Kokkinakis is coming off one of his best seasons on the tour and has worked hard to find a solution to his injury woes in order to be able to feature consistently on tour.

“It’s the worst feeling because you feel like you do everything you can to kind of prepare and get as ready as you can be for (what is) my most important event. Then, when something doesn’t quite go right or it lets you down, it’s tough,” Kokkinakis said.

“The thing I work hardest on the most (is to) recover and make sure I get into the best shape I can (but) when that fails you time and time again, that’s the one that is pretty head-scratching and pretty tough. But it is what it is at the end of the day. No-one cares if you roll out there. You have got to go out and play and see what you can do.”

It is now three years since Kokkinakis partnered Kyrgios to win the Australian Open doubles crown during a run that drew significant spectator interest at Melbourne Park.

He said the pair have vowed to have another crack over the next fortnight at Melbourne Park unless there is something seriously amiss with either one of them.

“I think both of us made a pact on that, unless we are seriously hurt, we’re going to try to come out there, even if we’re not feeling great,” he said.

“That’s one thing. We can rely on each other and play. We don’t know what we’re going to produce out there. But, for sure, we are going to take the court.”