(Tennis news) Thanasi Kokkinakis has been on a high at Adelaide in the 2022 season. The Australian had reached the semifinals of Adelaide International 1 as a wildcard beating John Millman, Frances Tiafoe on the way. Kokkinakis is now into the quarterfinals of Adelaide International 2 beating Benoit Paire in the first match and now overcame John Isner in the second match which also was a battle of first serves.

Kokkinakis needed three tie breaks in a match that went on for 2 hours and 43 minutes. His service was in fact a bit more efficient than Isner in the match as he won 12 points more than the American. The 25 year old was playing from the baseline as the serving giant came 31 times on the net and lost 15 points while the wildcard came front 10 times and only lost 2 points. It will be a clash of two Australian wildcards in the quarterfinal as Aleksandar Vukic defeated Steve Johnson in the 4th round. Kokkinakis defeated Isner 6-7(7-5), 7-6(7-5), 7-6(7-5).

Another player who is having a winning streak at Adelaide is Karen Khachanonov. Khachanov reached the finals earlier at Adelaide and now is into the quarterfinals. The Russian had pulled out of the ATP Cup which was held at the start of the month, now he will face Arthur Rinderknech for a place in the semifinal.

Khachanov was placing his first and second serve on the right spot against Gianluca Mager in the fourth round. The world number 30 only lost nine points on his serve as Mager struggled to set up points on return and Khachanov only played better than in the second set to clinch his 6th win of the season. Khachanov defeated Mager 7-5, 6-3.

Marin Cilic hit 29 winners in his match against Jaume Munar to advance to the quarterfinal. The Croatian had made the semifinals at Adelaide earlier and lost to Khachanonov. Cilic was too powerful as the hardcourts were in favour of the fast paced groundstrokes as the Spaniard could not handle the horsepower. The world number 33 will face in form Tommy Paul for a place in the quarterfinal, they both had played last year at Moscow which Cilic won. It will be Cilic’s power versus Paul’s defense which made him win against Frances Tiafoe two days earlier and both the players are in form. Cilic defeated Munar 7-6(8-6), 6-2.

Also read: Andy Murray records first victory of the season at the Sydney Tennis Classic