Kokkinakis beats Thiem to qualify in Madrid | 24 April, 2024 | All News | News and Features | News and Events [Video]

Madrid, Spain, 24 April 2024 | Matt Trollope

Thanasi Kokkinakis has become the seventh Australian man into the main draw of the Madrid Open after completing a dominant qualifying campaign.

Kokkinakis defeated former world No.3 Dominic Thiem 6-1 6-3, a day after a similarly-impressive 6-2 6-2 win over Gregoire Barrere.

He will next take on British lefty Jack Draper, with the winner to face No.8 seed Hubert Hurkacz.

Kokkinakis is seeking his first main-draw win in the Spanish capital, after falling in the first round in 2015 and 2023.

Other Australians competing in the ATP-WTA 1000 tournament are 10th seed Alex de Minaur, No.32 seed Jordan Thompson, Christopher O’Connell, Max Purcell, Aleksander Vukic and Alexei Popyrin, while Daria Saville gained entry as a lucky loser.

Kokkinakis beat Draper earlier this season in the first round of the ATP 250 event in Los Cabos.

That was on a hard court, and in 2024 Kokkinakis has been in even better …