‘Not sleeping for 3 days’: Non-stop party for Kyrgios and Kokkinakis after Grand Slam win

Nick Kyrgios (right) and Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrate after winning the Men’s doubles final against Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell on Day 13 of the Australian Open, at Melbourne Park. Photo: AAP/Dean Lewins.

Nick, hailing from Epirus and Malaysia and Peloponnesian Thanasi became the first all-Australian duo to win the men’s doubles title since 1997.

The Special Ks delivered a dazzling show on Saturday night becoming the first ever wild card team to win the Australian Open men’s doubles title.

And celebrations haven’t stopped since they lifted their maiden Grand Slam trophy.

Kokkinakis committed to “not sleeping for 3 days” while Kyrgios declared this win has been the most special throughout his career.

“I have won some big titles around the world, played some amazing matches. This one ranks (number) one for me.” he said.

The pair managed to dismiss four seeded Matt Ebden and Max Purcell 7-5 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.

And their win came as a culmination of an action-packed Australian Open run, with the duo having set courts abuzz with their way of playing and entertaining thousands of Australians who would tune in to view their matches on TV.

For those who know them, witnessing their chemistry would bring to memory their times as developing juniors when playing together.

“To be a Grand Slam champion with my boy, we have known each other since we were eight, nine years old, done some serious things together, have had some serious experiences, but this is incredible,” said Kokkinakis echoing the same sentiments as Kyrgios.

“We didn’t expect this at all.”

Beyond a long-standing firensdhip, the two share a strong surviving Greek heritage.

Kyrgios is the fruit of love of a mixed marriage between his Malaysian mother and Greek father.

His paternal grandparents, Christos and Spiridoula migrated to Australia in the 60s from Ioannina.

And since the start of 2022, you might have noticed the 26-year-old going public on social media with his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi, 21, also a Greek Australian.

Adelaide-born Kokkinakis is a true Peloponnesian and has even obtained Greek citizenship, registered in Pylos municipality.

His father, Tryfon, hails from Kalamata and mother, Paraskevi, from Tripoli.

With their paths crossing early on in their tennis career, the Special Ks duo have forged a special relationship on and off court since childhood.

But this shared title has already left its unique mark on their trajectory.

“We don’t know how many Oz Opens we’re going to play in the future due to injury or just deciding not to play,” Kyrgios said in their post-match interview.

“This is a memory that we are never going to forget. We are going to grow old, and we’re always going to, Remember that time we rolled off the couch and just won Oz Open?”

neoskosmos.com