'Tanking' suspicions hover over Italian in bizarre showing against Thanasi Kokkinakis
Local talent Thanasi Kokkinakis breezed through his first night of the Australian Open on Tuesday — and the ease with which he did raised eyebrows.
The South Australian will on Wednesday have to return to Kia Arena to finish the job against Italian Fabio Fognini after rain suspended the match, but he's not expected to be on the court for long.
Fognini didn't look like he wanted to be playing as Kokkinakis comfortably established a 6-1, 6-2, 4-2 buffer over the former world No.9.
AS IT HAPPENED: Australian Open 2023 day two highlights
READ MORE: Uncomfortable question hangs over Kyrgios call
READ MORE: Display of Russia flag at Australian Open condemned by Ukraine
"I don't know how to explain that," said Adam Peacock on Nine's coverage when Fognini casually hit the ball long during the third set.
"Spoke for itself."
Co-commentator Roger Rasheed questioned the 35-year-old when he bunted the ball into the net shortly after.
"You want to gauge Thanasi Kokkinakis' form. Well, he's hitting the ball nicely from both sides, serving well, got good rhythm, moving nicely. So from his side, his campaign is very solid," Rasheed said.
Fabio Fognini played with a striking air of nonchalance in his Australian Open match against Thanasi Kokkinakis on Tuesday night. Getty Images
"But his opponent hasn't yet tested him ... and put him under any duress.
"Shots like that have come off the Italian's racquet again and again."
The performance Fognini delivered stood in stark contrast to his usual style.
"The Italian likes to play shots," Rasheed said.
"He's got a big imagination on the court. He's a shotmaker. He's not just going to just hang around ... generally he wants to be doing something with the ball."
Fognini did show off his sparkling skillset with one stroke early in the third set, winning a 19-shot rally with a brilliant forehand return.
But his reaction was meek.
"He didn't exactly react to that shot like he had just won a car on The Price Is Right," Peacock joked, eliciting a laugh from Rasheed.
"I mean, he wasn't exactly jumping for joy. A real lack of energy from Fabio at the moment."
Marc McGowan, a sports reporter with The Age, raised the word "tanking".
"Fognini's skating very close to the tanking line," McGowan tweeted.
"And I'm being generous."
Tennis commentator Craig Gabriel also made a point of Fognini's nonchalance.
"Is Fabio Fognini on the court playing Thanasi Kokkinakis?" Gabriel wrote on Twitter.
"There is someone there.
"Looks like Fognini but like a shadow as Kokkinakis leads 6-1, 6-2."
Fognini, who's now ranked 57th in the world, hinted at retirement after suffering a first-round loss to the USA's Jenson Brooksby in Auckland last week.
"New Zealand! Unfortunately it's time to say goodbye," Fognini wrote on Instagram.
"Thanks for the warm welcome and for the great memories over the past 15 years."
Fognini won nine ATP titles between 2013 and 2019.
Kokkinakis will meet Andy Murray in round two of the Australian Open if he completes victory over Fognini.
Australian Open 2023 in pictures: Hilarious detail in Novak Djokovic's jacket proves ruthless mentality
