Thanasi Kokkinakis, ranked No. 855 after a long injury layoff, ground out a four-hour, 18-minute first-round win at Roland Garros on Monday, outlasting Frenchman Terence Atmane 6-7(5), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. He collapsed onto the clay after sealing the result in Paris.
Kokkinakis’ Remarkable Comeback
The Australian was competing in only his third tournament since last year’s Australian Open, adding weight to a victory built on late resilience. He trailed 4-1 in the deciding set and Atmane served for the match at 5-4, but Kokkinakis broke back and swept the final games to complete the turnaround. He will face former world No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta in the next round.
Kokkinakis underwent major pectoral surgery in February last year and missed 11 months. He returned in January, won a match in Adelaide, then withdrew before his second round. He played doubles at the Australian Open and did not compete again until earlier this month at a Challenger event in Zagreb, where he won two qualifying matches before withdrawing ahead of the main draw.
He said after the match that he had recently considered not playing in Paris because of lingering concerns over his fitness, even advising some supporters not to travel. He described feeling heavy nerves before settling into the contest and riding his momentum.
The result is his second tour-level victory of 2026. Kokkinakis’ determination and skill on the court serve as an inspiration to many athletes facing similar challenges. As he continues his journey in the tournament, fans will undoubtedly be rooting for his success and hoping to see him reclaim his spot among the top players in the world.