PORT Adelaide ambassador Thanasi Kokkinakis has stunned Latvian 11th seed Ernests Gulbis in a nail-biting five-setter to advance to the second round of the Australian Open.
Kokkinakis, an official club ambassador since 2014, overcame four match points against him to prevail in an epic fifth set and set up a match with compatriot Sam Groth.
The teenager won the match 5-7 6-0 1-6 7-6(2) 8-6.
With a supportive home crowd behind him on Show Court 3, including Power player Jackson Trengove who went to the match while recovering from recent shoulder surgery, the South Australian is quickly becoming one of the favourite locals on centre court.
Kokkinakis was in Dubai with Port Adelaide in December 2014 and worked with the club's high performance team in the Emirate.
The Kokk celebrates his first round win. Source: Australian Open
"I remember last year, I had unbelievable memories. But I will just enjoy this. It is unbelievable," Kokkinakis told Channel Seven after the match.
"I just trusted myself and focused on my forehand.
"I could not have done it without these guys: they were incredible, my coach, my parents."
Port Adelaide has a long association with tennis, with international coaches Roger Rasheed and Darren Cahill also club ambassadors.
His 'teammates' got behind him on Twitter last night.
Yessssss @TKokkinakis
— Angus Monfries (@AngusMonfries) January 19, 2015
@TKokkinakis congrats mate. A fourth quarter which would have done @PAFC proud. Was it Dubai kicking in? We're behind you all the way
— david koch (@kochie_online) January 19, 2015
Great work legend @TKokkinakis huge effort.
— Jay Schulz (@Jschulz28) January 19, 2015
2nd Round @TKokkinakis Go get em
— Paul Stewart (@PaulDStewart14) January 19, 2015
Unbelievable scenes. You are the man @TKokkinakis
— Kane Cornes (@kanecornes) January 19, 2015
Clutch @TKokkinakis #ThaKokk
— Hamish Hartlett (@hharts8) January 19, 2015
Ye boi @TKokkinakis
— Karl Amon (@karl_amon) January 19, 2015
And then his fellow Power supporters got around him...
Great to see such support for @TKokkinakis from the @PAFC boys. #extendedfamily
— Sarah Galliford (@Sarah_J_Galli) January 19, 2015
Have not been mesmerised by a tennis match in a long time! Great job @TKokkinakis - the @PAFC motto of "not giving in" was very evident.
— Scott Bourne (@scottie_bourne) January 19, 2015
Loving the support for @TKokkinakis from all the @PAFC boys. Legends all round! #TheKokk #NeverGiveUp
— Śamanthá (@samdicicco) January 19, 2015
And @TKokkinakis is a @PAFC man! Knew there was a reason I liked him more than Kyrgios. Go you mad snake! #AusOpen
— Michael Beveridge (@mickyb273) January 19, 2015
