'The only weird thing is calling it a ‘Grand Slam'': Thanasi Kokkinakis questions US Open’s mixed doubles experiment

Thanasi Kokkinakis has always been known for his honesty. Whether it’s talking about injuries, career setbacks, or the state of the game, the Australian rarely sugarcoats his opinions. Speaking recently on The Tennis podcast by Australian Open, he stated that there is an "asterisk" regarding the new mixed doubles format at the US Open.

The 28-year-old offered an inside look into his recovery after surgery, weighed in on the controversial new mixed doubles format, and gave his take on the future of men’s tennis—part icularly the growing rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Mixed Doubles: Entertainment or Asterisk?

The US Open’s experiment with a faster mixed doubles format drew plenty of attention this season. While fans enjoyed seeing top players paired together in short, fast sets, Kokkinakis was forthright in his assessment. “I might cop a bit for this, but I think there’s an asterisk around mixed doubles Grand Slams in general. No one really trains for it, they just pair up and play. Maybe I’m bitter because my mixed record is 0–10 (laughs).”

The Australian questioned whether victories in a shortened format should carry the same prestige as traditional doubles or s ingles majors. “The only weird thing is calling it a ‘Grand Slam’ when you’re winning matches 4–2, 4–2. That doesn’t quite feel right to me.”

He also empathised with doubles specialists, who have expressed frustration at being sidelined by the event’s smaller draw. Italian veteran Sara Errani even called the new setup “disrespectful.” Kokkinakis, though, pointed out the wider truth of professional tennis. “No one picks up a racket as a kid and says, ‘I want to be the best doubles player in the world.’ But it’s a good way to make money later in your career.”

Sinner vs. Alcaraz: The Rivalry of the future

Thanasi Kokkinakis is very familiar with the current leaders of men's tennis, having faced both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on multiple occasions. He played against Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of Indian Wells in 2023, where Alcaraz won 6-3, 6-3. Alcaraz went on to win the title without dropping a single set, defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Kokkinakis has also faced Jannik Sinner four times and has lost on every occasion. Their most competitive match was at Cincinnati in 2022, which was decided in a third-set tie-break. In their three subsequent matches, Kokkinakis was unable to win a set from the Italian.

Just a couple of days ago, the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry had a new chapter in the Cincinnati Open final. However, they were only able to play five games before the world No. 1, Sinner, retired, giving the title to Alcaraz.

Jannik Sinner’s illness during Cincinnati final raised questions about his US Open prospects, but Kokkinakis believes the Italian will bounce back. “The North American swing is brutal—mid-30s, super humid. Honestly, for me, Washington, Cincinnati, and New York were the hardest places to play. But if Sinner’s healthy, I’d say he’s the favourite for the US Open.”

Still, Kokkinakis sees Carlos Alcaraz as the player with the higher ceiling. “At their absolute best, I’d give Carlos the edge—he’s got more variety and firepower. His only weakness is he can get bored, a bit impatient. Sinner’s more steady, mentally solid, doesn’t go for the flashy shots. Both are incredible, but Carlos probably has the higher ceiling.”

Eight months away from tennis

Kokkinakis has endured plenty of struggles with his body throughout his career, but this latest setback was his longest spell away from the sport. “It’s been about eight months since I had the surgery—or since I even hit a ball. Probably the longest I’ve ever gone without touching a racket,” he admitted.

The South Australian only returned to the practice court recently, hitting balls “really lightly” to test his body. Encouragingly, the comeback has started better than expected. “I went back on court at the end of last week and started training again, really lightly. So far it’s been better than I expected.”

With his eyes firmly set on 2026, Kokkinakis is targeting a return to competition at the Adelaide International in January. “If everything goes well, I’d love to come back in Adelaide. Fingers crossed for January.”