First, the good news.
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After all his French Open heroics, Thanasi Kokkinakis has been given a well-deserved showcourt date for his last-32 clash against American No.1 Taylor Fritz at the French Open on Saturday.
The bad news?
The court doesn't have a roof.
After this wettest, most wearisome week at Roland Garros, Australian warrior Kokkinakis, who's endured more than eight hours of on-court slog over two matches and maybe twice as long watching the rain come down, just wanted a stress-free third round under one of the two roofed courts.
"I hope I get a good court with a roof - I don't feel like I've played a match this whole clay-court swing in Europe without a rain delay. Everything's been under lights with rain," sighed Kokkinakis after prevailing in two soggy, stop-start, five-set wins.
Instead, the popular Adelaide player has got only half his wish. Court Simmone Mathieu, the third showcourt, may be its loveliest arena, but it's uncovered on what could be another in a procession of dank days.
Kokkinakis jokes if he starts off as he did in his last match against Italian Giulio Zeppieri, he wouldn't have wanted the horror to have been seen on a show court anyway. "The fewer people watching that, the better," he noted.
These slow starts are a problem for the 28-year-old, who was also a set - and almost two sets - down to Alexei Popyrin in his opener.
Now he has to stop being a marathon man and burst out the blocks like sprinter.
For his recovery from slow starts makes for great viewing when he drags matches into thrilling fifth-set territory but it makes life nerve-shreddingly, mentally and physically exhausting for him.
"I don't know why (I get involved in so many epics). Maybe I like a bit of drama, maybe I struggle to find the level needed early enough," pondered Kokkinakis, who's looking to reach a slam fourth round for the first time in 21 main draw attempts.
"I really need to do it easier but guys are good and I struggle with my focus a lot of the time.
"I always find it tough getting into the rhythm of the match. I'm not playing my best from the start, and it takes time for me to find my rhythm, get used to the ball and my opponent.
"I dunno, I just feel more comfortable as the match goes on with my game style and with what I need to do to figure out the opponent. The beauty of five sets is it gives you that chance."
Physically, though, catch-up tennis is bad news. Kokkinakis said he wouldn't pick up a racquet on the eve of the match against Fritz, smiling ruefully that he'd "spend time on the physio table, put all these anti-inflams in my system and hope for the best."
A good start will be imperative against world No.12 Fritz, who's a very different player now than the one Kokkinakis shared a win and a loss with more than six years ago in hard-court duels.
"Hell of a player, Taylor. He's done it a little bit easier than I have to get to the third round, but I'm not really thinking about him, just thinking about how I can get as close to being in one piece as I can for my match," said Kokkinakis.
"Because I know when my body's there, I've got a chance against anyone. I've just got to try to get my body right."
Australian Associated Press
