(VIDEO) Kokkinakis riles up crowd in Manchester by picking Chelsea as his favourite football team at Davis Cup
ATP
Kokkinakis
got the crowd in Manchester excited when he declared Chelsea as his favorite
football team during the Davis Cup.
Team
Australia visited Manchester for the Davis Cup, where they shared the group
with the local teams of Great Britain, France, and Switzerland. The team led by
Lleyton Hewitt was the first one to secure their qualification to the Finals in
Malaga at the end of the year.
After
losing the series against the local team (1-2), Australia secured a victory
against France (2-1) and closed with a win against Switzerland (3-0). As a
result, the last spot in their group will be decided on Sunday between the
French and the British.
In the
first singles match of the day, world No. 74 Thanasi Kokkinakis won his match
against Dominic Stricker with a score of 6-3, 7-5, putting behind his recent
loss to Jack Draper (6-7, 6-3, 7-6).
During the
on-court interview after the match, the interviewer asked Kokkinakis whether he
prefers Manchester United or Manchester City, the two main teams in the city.
The Australian surprised everyone by responding with "Chelsea," a
team from London, which caused a reaction from the audience.
The series
against Switzerland was a celebration for the Australians, who had excellent
performances from each of their players. First, there was Kokkinakis' victory
over world No. 90 Dominick Stricker in the first match of the day.
Then, world
No. 101 Marc-Andre Husler faced off against Alex de Minaur (12th), with another
comfortable win for the Australians, 6-4, 6-3 in just 73 minutes.
In the
final match, Max Purcell and Mathew Ebden defeated the Swiss duo of Stricker
and Husler 6-2, 6-4 in 74 minutes, securing an ideal 3-0 victory that earns
them a spot in the Final 8 in Malaga at the end of the year.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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