The trend helping Kokkinakis bounce back to his best

Australian youngster Thanasi Kokkinakis is making his comeback count, with his latest win a massive triumph over world No.6 Milos Raonic at Queen's.

The 21-year-old from South Australian defeated the Canadian 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (8-6) in the first round of the London tournament overnight.

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Raonic reached the Queen's and Wimbledon finals last year, giving Kokkinakis mcuh confidence as he progresses to a second-round match against Daniil Medvedev.

The Australian gave Raonic eight break-point opportunities in the first set but offered up just one in the second, with Raonic failing to take advantage of any of the nine total.

Kokkinakis kept up with his opponent's 18 aces by nailing 15 of his own, with his serve improving throughout the day.

"Obviously with the shoulder surgery the more I start to hit first serves, the more comfortable I feel on it so usually as the match goes on the better I start serving," Kokkinakis said.

"That's been the trend, which is a good thing."

Raonic was disappointed not to take any games off his opponent: "It's a big frustration."

Kokkinakis had no break-point opportunities of his own and only felt comfortable with his play on Raonic's service points in the tiebreaker.

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Feeling on edge throughout the first set, Kokkinakis said the lead allowed him to play free from the baseline in the second.

But he knew all too well that Raonic could come back at any moment.

"There was no point I thought I had the match," Kokkinakis laughed.

"I thought he had the first set, for sure, but then my serve helped me. In the second set, nope, I didn't think I had the match, to be honest

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"But luckily it turned on its head and I got those big points when it mattered."

Kokkinakis backed up his tough match against Raonic with a doubles outing later in the day, which was lost in a long three-setter.