"He's got good firepower, he's lightning quick, he's got good hands": Kokkinakis shares admiration for Alcaraz ahead of Indian Wells clash

Thanasi Kokkinakis praised the playing style of his next opponent Carlos Alcaraz before their match at BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells.

The Australian player has been showing a great level this week, winning his qualifying matches against Yuichi Sugita and Matteo Arnaldi. In the first round, he faced American player Brandon Holt and has not dropped a set so far. However, the challenge in the second round will be against top seed Carlos Alcaraz, for whom he had words of admiration.

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“I just like the way he plays. He’s got good firepower, he’s lightning quick, he’s got good hands. I saw it a few years ago just watching some highlights of him. It’s so hard to eclipse what those legends have done in our sports with how many Slams they’ve won, but he’s definitely capable and I think he’s got a shot if he stays healthy for sure.” Said Kokkinakis

This will be the first meeting between Alcaraz and Kokkinakis, and the Australian knows that the former world No. 1 is the favorite coming into the match after his strong performances in the South American tournaments, where he won the Argentino Open and was a finalist in the Rio Open.

"It’s not just that he’s got no weaknesses, but he just plays with great energy. He plays tennis the right way. He’s always up and about, he’s always smiling. I think the crowd loves watching him because his energy is almost contagious. He’s one of my favourite players to watch. Whenever he’s playing, I try to tune in if I’ve got time.", said the Aussie player.

Kokkinakis said that despite his opponent's strengths, he has confidence in his own game and that with more consistency, he can be a challenge for any player.

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"I know my game, when it’s at my best, is capable of beating a lot of guys. But I also know that consistency is the thing I struggle with, so I’m hoping to match up with the best players this year and hopefully knock a few off and see how well I can do and push far this year."