Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis achieved a remarkable victory over top seed Christopher Eubanks at the ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Phoenix, Arizona. Kokkinakis’ formidable serve and exceptional forehand kept Eubanks on the defensive, preventing the American from gaining the upper hand in the match. Kokkinakis was able to convert three out of 16 break points, ultimately securing his win after a grueling one hour and 55 minutes on the court.
Reflecting on his performance, Kokkinakis expressed his satisfaction with how the match unfolded, stating, “I just tried to make as many returns as possible and back myself off the ground, try and make him play the extra ball. I thought we both were struggling at the start, just trying to find rhythm. Through the second set, the tennis got better and it was a really close match.”
The Australian player is now poised to face off against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who also emerged victorious in his recent match against Rinky Hijikata.
In other first-round action, former World No. 9 Fabio Fognini emerged victorious with a straight-sets win against wild card Michael Mmoh. Defending Phoenix champion Nuno Borges also had a successful outing, defeating Alexandre Muller with ease. Another notable match saw Luca Van Assche secure a hard-fought victory against Cristian Garin.
Tennis enthusiasts can catch all the thrilling action of the ATP Challenger Tour matches live and on demand for free on Challenger TV. Exciting matches scheduled for Thursday include Matteo Berrettini taking on Arthur Cazaux and Borges facing off against Benoit Paire.
The Phoenix Challenger continues to draw in top talent and deliver exhilarating matches, making it a must-watch event for tennis fans around the world.