A WARY Thanasi Kokkinakis is close to making another attempt to return from injuries to the ATP Tour and eventually Australia’s Davis Cup team.
Kokkinakis is planning to play in the claycourt season, Tennis Australia’s head of performance Wally Masur said.
The 20-year-old Davis Cup player managed one only match in a 2016 season marred by shoulder surgery and other injuries and has not played a match since a Brisbane doubles appearance in January.
Kokkiankis’ agent did not respond to a question from The Courier-Mail on where he would play his first tournament.
Thanasi Kokkinakis is nearing a return after a long injury lay-off.Source:Getty Images
The European claycourt season starts next week and ends at the French Open from May 28.
“He’s looking at working his way on to the clay as a surface that’s a bit kinder on the body,’’ Masur said.
“Thanasi is being cautious. He’ll be ready to play on the clay unless there is a hiccup.’’
Kokkinakis and John Millman will both use an injury-protected ranking to get them into Grand Slam tournaments and selected ATP events.
Millman says his plan remains to return at the French Open surgery in February to repair a conjoint tendon repair in his abdominal wall.
“I’m shooting for the French Open and I’m confident I will be there,’’ Millman said at Tennyson.
“I’m not hitting yet, but focusing on a big block of strength (training) and then hitting.’’
Masur said James Duckworth, a third one-time top-100 player who missed the Australian circuit because of injury, is two to three weeks away from hitting balls again after foot surgery and a recovery from a shoulder injury.
■ TA has announced that all proceeds from sales of tickets for the Davis Cup tie in Brisbane will be donated to the Australian Red Cross’ Disaster Relief and Recovery fund to support communities who suffered damage from Cyclone Debbie.
Tennis Queensland and Tennis NSW will match the funds raised through today’s sales and direct its towards more than 20 tennis clubs which have suffered structural damage.
Originally published as Cautious Kokkinakis nears comeback
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