'Always a chance': Thanasi Kokkinakis throws support behind Alex de Minaur despite 'tricky' first-up task
A short stint away from the courts was not enough to slow Jannik Sinner down, but Australian star Thanasi Kokkinakis believes there is only one player who can put the world No.1 to the test if he is to advance to the final at the Roland Garros.
Sinner returned to the professional circuit at the Italian Open last week, in what was his first tournament since completing his three-month doping suspension.
An impressive run through the tournament saw the Italian scheduled to face world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz in the final, but Sinner fell short of adding another title to his resume.
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The effort by Alcaraz marked his fourth consecutive win over the world No.1, making him the only player to beat Sinner more than once in the past two years.
The pair have yet to meet in a grand slam final, although are the two favourites to do so at the Roland Garros this season.
Italy's Jannik Sinner gestures to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during their men's singles final match at the Rome Open. Getty
"To be honest, if they both make the final, the only one who can challenge him is Alcaraz," Kokkinakis told Wide World of Sports of the predicted final.
"He has the highest level to beat him but I think Sinner would probably go in as the favourite.
"Obviously, he would've loved to have had a few more lead in tournaments but he wasn't injured during this period. I'm sure he was training the whole time and his body is really ready (to go).
"Making the final in Rome in his first tournament back, losing to Alcaraz in a match that he had two set points in the first set, I think (Sinner) is going to be favourite."
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Kokkinakis will not feature in the draw in 2025 as he continues to recover from a lingering pectoral injury, which he had surgery on in February.
Although it has be a "rough year" for Kokkinakis, he revealed he is hopeful to be back on the clay-courts in Paris next season.
Thanasi Kokkinakis interacts with Alex de Minaur. Getty Images for ITF
But in the mean time, he will be watching on as top-ranked Australian Alex de Minaur begins his quest to go deep in the grand slam arena.
"I think he is always a chance," Kokkinakis said of de Minaur.
"I think he has solidified himself as a top eight player in the world having such consistent results.
"He has a tricky clay-courter in the first round Laslo Djere. Alex is going to be the favourite there coming in as ninth seed.
"He just needs to take care of business in the first round - but over five sets Alex is so fit and quick so he's going to be a tough battle for anyone."
