US Open 2015: Thanasi Kokkinakis ‘shattered’ after first-round exit due to cramps

Australian teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis was forced to retire from the US Open in New York after surrendering to the brutal conditions in the first round against 12th seed Richard Gasquet. Kokkinakis threatened to pull off a major upset against the Frenchman tennis pro before exiting the tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre with severe cramping.

Kokkinakis was leading Gasquet 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 2-0 when he left the match. The Aussie youngster, who described the setback as an “absolute torture,” acknowledged the advice from the umpire to stop playing and consider his heath.

"I'm pretty shattered," Kokkinakis said, reports ABC. “It's just frustrating 'cause I started playing good tennis.”

Kokkinakis winced in pain as he was treated courtside, barely moving under the scorching heat. The 19-year-old Australian said he was getting fired up when the unfortunate timing came, adding that it was a “disaster” when both his calves broke down after attempting to hit a swing.

Kokkinakis, ranked as world’s No. 71, seized a two-sets-to-one lead before dropping eight straight points when he served 2-2 and 30 love in the fourth set. He rolled serves into play at less than 100kph before being reduced to under-arm serving at one point.

Kokkinakis’ sorry departure follows Australia’s disappointing start to the season’s final grand slam event. Ajla Tomljanovic and John-Patrick Smith joined the exodus on Tuesday, while first-round exits on Monday included Casey Dellacqua, Daria Gavrilova, John Millman, and Matt Ebden. Kokkinakis will now turn his attention to Australia’s Davis Cup semi-final against Great Britain in Glasgow.

Meanwhile, Kokkinakis declared that he has moved on from an incident with fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios. Kokkinakis said he is past Kyrgios, who told Stan Wawrinka last month that “Kokkinakis [had sex with] your girlfriend.”

“It's not really an issue for me anyway at the moment. I've moved past it and I'm sure they will, too,” Kokkinakis said, reports ESPN.

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