Thanasi Kokkinakis has reached the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International 2 after stunning big-serving American John Isner in three sets.
Kokkinakis came from a set down at the Adelaide International 2 on Wednesday to secure the 6-7 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4) victory in two hours and 42 minutes. The win sets up a quarter-final showdown against fellow Australian Aleksandar Vukic, who beat world No.84 American Steve Johnson 6-4 7-5 earlier in the day.
Kokkinakis, who beat 20-time major winner Roger Federer in 2018 but has battled a raft of injuries throughout his career, has enjoyed an ideal lead-in to next week's Australian Open.
He beat world No.38 Frances Tiafoe last week on the way to reaching the semi-finals of the Adelaide International 1, and his triumph over world No.24 John Isner was further evidence of the damage he could cause at the year-opening major.
Neither Isner nor Kokkinakis was broken for the entire match, but the Australian at least mustered five break-point chances - all in the opening set. Isner didn't secure a single break-point opportunity in the match, but his booming serve was enough to save him time and again.
The 208cm American took the opening set in a tiebreaker and was just three points away from winning the match after setting up a 4-2 lead in the second set tiebreak. However, Kokkinakis reeled off five of the next six points to take the tie into a decider before holding his nerve in the third-set tiebreak to seal the impressive win.
Isner struck 25 aces to Kokkinakis's 15, but he also committed 31 unforced errors for the match. Kokkinakis committed just 14 unforced errors to go with his 47 winners.
"Playing him is not fun," Kokkinakis said during his on-court interview after the match.
"I just had to hope he missed a first serve, or if he made one somehow jag a return."
On paper, the superstars of world tennis wouldn't be too nervous taking on a player ranked 145th in the world. But that won't be the case when they face Kokkinakis, who has earned a wildcard for the Australian Open.
Back in 2015, tennis great John Newcombe said Kokkinakis had the talent to be a top 20, top 10 or even a top-five player in the world.
Shoulder, pectoral, groin, knee and elbow injuries have cruelled Kokkinakis's hopes of reaching his potential since then, but a clean bill of health could finally allow him to fulfil his tennis destiny.