"You can decide to put training around it": Alex de Minaur defends Thanasi Kokkinakis after recent criticism from Todd Woodbridge
ATP
Australia’s Alex de Minaur has also come out in defence of
fellow country Thanasi Kokkinakis, who has received criticism about prioritising exhibition events before preparing for the mega-events. The 28-year-old has
come under severe criticism from the former doubles world number one Todd
Woodbridge.
The 53-year-old, who is often regarded as one of the
greatest doubles players in the history of tennis, has recently criticised the
performances of Kokkinakis, who, according to him, has not lived up to his
talent. Woodbridge also questioned why Kokkinakis decided to play in exhibition
events, which, according to him, does not let him prepare well for the big
events.
"Scheduling is a really interesting thing with
him," said Woodbridge while talking at the Wide World of Sports' The
Morning Serve. "At the back end of the year he's played Challengers and
then he went and played exhibition matches that he didn't need to do. Yes, the
money's great and we all love putting that in our pocket and that's exactly
what he did, but that schedule hurts to start the year."
In response to that, Kokkinakis, while talking to the media
during the ongoing Australian Open, stated that he was only making a ‘living’
and doing nothing wrong. “That’s why he is trying to host every game show under
the sun," he said while responding to Woodbridge’s comments. "We’re
trying to make a living as much as he is."
De Minaur, also taking part in the Australian Open and cemented his spot in the third round, has come out in defence of Kokkinakis
and suggested that participating in a ‘three-day’ exhibition event should not
disrupt anyone’s preparation.
“Well, look, ultimately everyone decides their own
schedule,” he said after defeating Tristan Boyer in the round of 64 the first
Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne. “Whether you’re playing an exxo
(exhibition) or not, you can decide to put training around it. I don’t think
playing playing a three-day event is going to cause any sort of harm.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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