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Zverev or Kokkinakis: Is One Tennis’s Next Big Thing?

By Lee Vowell

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 05: Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia celebrates winning his singles match against Alexander Zverev of Germany on day seven during the 2018 Hopman Cup at Perth Arena on January 5, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 05: Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia celebrates winning his singles match against Alexander Zverev of Germany on day seven during the 2018 Hopman Cup at Perth Arena on January 5, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) /
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Tennis fans should know Alexander Zverev by this point. Should being the operative word. But Thanasi Kokkinakis? He might also be worth watching.

Zverev versus Kokkinakis. Has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it? Maybe it does anyway. But we tennis fans have reached a bit of a turning point. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal? Still great. Novak Djokovic? He has been fantastic for many years. But is his star waning? Tennis needs a new and younger star.

Alexander Zverev, the German with the Russian name, is currently ranked at number four in the Emirates ATP rankings. With so many top players avoiding the Australian Open this year (i.e. Nadal and Andy Murray, among two), the window has opened for younger players to take advantage.

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Federer for one believes Zverev can win the first Grand Slam of the year. According to what Federer told HopmanCup.com, “He’s going to be very tough to beat here at the Australian Open. I think he’s doing all the right things.”

And Federer should know. The number two player in the world currently, but arguably best player ever, has won the Australian Open five times.

Zverev has the physical tools to be a dominant player. He has a two-handed backhand that rivals any other player’s. Plus, he has the personality to bring non-traditional tennis fan to the game. This type of transcendence is what separates players like Bjorn Borg and Nadal from capable but boring players.

For the game to move beyond Federer and Nadal, players like Zverev need to continue their evolution to greatness.

But wait. At the Hopman Cup this week, Thanasi Kokkinakis was impressive. He defeated Zverev 5-7 7-6 (4) 6-4. A close match between two players who are under 21 years old. Kokkinakis is from Australia and Australians love their tennis. And they especially love their Australian tennis players.

Kokkiankis missed all of 2016 with groin and pec issues and missed the first half of 2017 with a shoulder problem. He has a huge serve, which in today’s tennis can carry a player deep into Slams, except maybe the French. And any time an Aussie can be involved at a high level of men’s tennis, the global tennis world is a happy place.

Sure, there are young players like Jack Sock that are currently ranked higher than Kokkinakis. But are they better? This may be the year to find out.

Related Story: Say it ain't so!: Serena to skip the Aussie

Plus, for the love of tennis fans everywhere, we need a new contender to the throne of the Big Four. The next ten years is crucial to the popularity of the sport. In the Australian Open, Zverev or Kokkinakis might step forward into the realm of greatness.

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