Yoshihito Nishioka will face Thanasi Kokkinakis on January 6, 2025, at the Adelaide International, marking their first tour-level meeting.
Nishioka, ranked No. 63, has had significant career achievements, including his biggest victory over World No. 2 Ruud at the 2022 Seoul tournament. He aims to leverage his prior head-to-head success, holding a 1-0 record against Kokkinakis, which he achieved during their encounter at the 2014 US Open qualifiers.
Despite losing his last match at the Rakuten Japan Open on September 28, 2024, Nishioka's performance is characterized by resilience and strategic play. He has won 77.0% of his service games on hard courts over the last year and is known for his ability to save match points, as demonstrated during his first ATP title win at the 2018 Shenzhen Open.
On the other side of the court, Thanasi Kokkinakis, currently ranked No. 77, has faced his share of ups and downs but has shown promise throughout his career. He secured his first ATP Tour title at the 2022 Adelaide-2 tournament, where he emerged as the champion as a wildcard entry.
Both players are coming off disappointing losses; Kokkinakis fell to Nuno Borges at the US Open on August 29, 2024. Nevertheless, Kokkinakis boasts the record for the most match wins (12) in Adelaide tournament history.
Statistics show Kokkinakis has an 83.2% winning percentage on service games on all surfaces over the past year, but his return game remains less formidable, winning only 17.5% of return games. This marks the distinct playing styles both bring to the matchup, and experts predict Nishioka might have the upper hand based on their respective performances.
Analysts suggest Nishioka's knack for clutch moments could be pivotal, and many expect him to convert this match's pressure situations effectively. The match will take place on hard courts at War Memorial Drive, with both players eager to advance to the next round.
Looking at historical matchups and their recent performances, some analysts lean heavily toward Nishioka, believing he will win the match decisively. The Stevegtennis.com prediction supports this notion, commenting, "Yoshihito Nishioka will win in straight sets." This adds to the anticipation of this first-time tour encounter at the prestigious Adelaide International, as eager spectators witness two intriguing styles clash on the hard court.