STOKE PARK, June 28, 2017
The opening day of The Boodles 2017 kicked off on Tuesday at Stoke Park with #NextGenATP star Borna Coric and returning youngster Thanasi Kokkinakis sealing wins before the rain hit.
The 20-year-old from Croatia defeated Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania 6-3, 6-3.
“This is my first match I won here, I lost both of the matches I played last year so I didn’t have a very good score, but this year I was playing very good. I was very happy with my tennis, so yeah, it was perfect,” Coric told afterwards.
The World No. 42 continued:
“I’m absolutely feeling good going into Wimbledon. I always feel like I need a couple more matches so I can start playing better, you know, so this is what I needed. And yeah, hopefully I can play good.”
Kokkinakis Beats Simon
Thanasi Kokkinakis backed up his Queen’s Club upset of Milos Raonic last week with a maiden win at Stoke Park, taking down former World No. 6 Gilles Simon of France in straight sets.
The 21-year-old Austalian, who is currently ranked World No. 478 as he returns from 18 months of injury, was happy with his performance, securing the win just as the rain began to fall.
“I felt really good. Two years ago I came here, loved it. I was a little bit sick last time I played, but I enjoyed the atmosphere. It’s a great place to find your feet a little bit before the grass-courts at Wimbledon,” Kokkinakis said.
“It’s pretty easy-going. A lot of the hard work’s done, you’ve played a lot of serious matches before. You kind of want to feel good, relax a little bit, and still keep your game going, so The Boodles is perfect for that.”
Results Tuesday, 27th June 2017
Borna Coric (CRO) d. Ricardas Berankis (LAT) 63 63
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d. Gilles Simon (FRA) 64 62
Benoit Paire (FRA) v Denis Shapovalov (CAN) – cancelled due to rain.
Jan-Lennard Struff GER) v James Ward (GBR) – cancelled due to rain.
