EXCLUSIVE: Thanasi Kokkinakis' sad doubles admission as more injury drama threatens playing future

Thanasi Kokkinakis says playing doubles tennis doesn't "fulfil" him like singles does, but admits making the switch full-time is becoming a realistic option if he can't get his busted body into shape.

The 29-year-old South Australian is facing another extended stint in the rehab room after aggravating a shoulder issue at the Adelaide International last week.

Last year he underwent surgery and had a dead person's Achilles tendon inserted into his shoulder joint in an effort to get back on the court.

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He survived his comeback match in Adelaide and won, but two days later had to withdraw from the tournament.

He also pulled out of the Australian Open singles draw, but committed to play men's doubles alongside close friend Nick Kyrgios.

On Thursday night they lost their first round match against fellow all-Aussie team Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans.

The following morning Kokkinakis revealed his shoulder struggled to make it through the match.

"I didn't play singles for a reason this week and I knew why in the doubles - I hit a serve and my arm shut down on me again," he told Wide World of Sports at Melbourne Park on Friday. Kokkinakis was backing up on just a few hours' sleep to promote Hands Free Tennis at the Australian Open.

"Even when we were up in the third set I knew the writing was on the wall... in a lot of ways it was probably a good thing we didn't get through, because I don't think we would have played the second round.

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"But it was fun being out there in that atmosphere again. Nick and I desperately want to come out here and feel 100 per cent, and we're doing everything we can to do that."

Kyrgios, too, has battled ongoing injuries since he played the singles final at Wimbledon in 2022. He has barely played competitive tennis in the past three years.

At the 2022 Australian Open they won the men's doubles title together, taking Australian fans on a wild ride through their home tournament.

Earlier this week Aussie tennis great Jelena Dokic told Wide World of Sports' The Morning Serve she believes Kokkinakis and Kyrgios - dubbed the Special Ks - could win multiple more grand slams if they decided to focus solely on playing doubles together.

Kokkinakis says they do want to play more doubles together, but his priority is still being competitive in singles tennis.

"We want to do a little bit more on tour this year. I don't know what Nick's plans are singles wise. I'm doing everything I can to get back on the singles court," he said.

"Singles is my priority. Hopefully, if I can get this arm right, I've still got some good years left in singles.

"But we did say we want to play a bit more doubles this year. It's something we enjoy, something when we're healthy we can do really well and obviously the crowd loves it. So we're going to try give it a crack.

"We can do well in some doubles events, that's for sure. Whether we're going to be one of the best doubles teams in the world consistently, who knows.

"There are a lot of teams who practice doubles consistently and are very good at it.

"We would love to play a few more events. But I don't think for me and my career, don't think it would quite fulfil me as much just playing doubles. I do like to play it, it's fun. But I definitely get more enjoyment and more value out of playing singles."

Kokkinakis admits it would be easier for his body to stand up to the rigours of doubles tennis, rather than singles.

"Yeah, it's much easier. The longevity in doubles is a lot easier," he said.

"That's why a lot of the older singles players end up playing doubles. You serve one in every four (games), you only have to cover half the court. It makes a big difference."

Kokkinakis messaged Australia's Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt immediately after Thursday night's match to withdraw from next month's tie.

While he was devastated to have to do so, he didn't want to be picked in the team and then not be able to play at his best for his country.

As for what lies ahead for the Aussie fan favourite, he is set for multiple injections in his busted shoulder on Friday and then has appointments with specialists in the coming weeks to try map out a plan to get his body fixed.

But he desperately wants to avoid more surgery.

"I don't think another surgery route would be the way to go," he told WWOS.

"I'm speaking to some experts, I've got a couple things lined up straight after here. I had it all planned before the tournament.

"I'm trying to find out exactly what that consists of. It's pretty intense, some of the things that I'm going to try and do. But it's all catered towards me getting back. I'm not going to step on a tennis court until I know I can play singles matches and feel pretty good.

"I'm hoping I can get another five or six (years). I had the surgery (last year) to hopefully give me some longevity."

Kokkinakis has found a new way to play tennis which doesn't require using his shoulders or arms at all.

He was at Melbourne Park on Friday promoting Hands Free Tennis at the Brookvale Union pop-up. He even had a hit with Nine's Today host Karl Stefanovic.

It's essentially totem poll tennis anyone can play in their backyard, with the benefit of having the racquet strapped to your waist, leaving your hands free for other activities.

"If I had one of these apparatuses earlier I might be able to last five sets," Kokkinakis laughed.

"If tennis was played that way I'd be a high level player. Thankfully (I don't have to use my shoulders) so they've looked after me here."