Thanasi Kokkinakis goes public with new flame after brutal Miami Open drama
The Aussie tennis player attended the 'Glamour on the Grid' event in Melbourne with Hannah Dal Sasso.
Thanasi Kokkinakis has stepped out in public for the first time with new girlfriend Hannah Dal Sasso, however the Aussie tennis star was keen to stress that it's only early days. Kokkinakis and Dal Sasso attended the 'Glamour on the Grid' event on Wednesday night in Melbourne ahead of the Australian F1 Grand Prix.
While they attended the event together and appeared to be an item, Kokkinakis thought it best not to have any photographs with Dal Sasso - a social media influencer from Melbourne. However Dal Sasso confirmed to News Corp that they are dating, saying: “We met a few months ago. I’ve been travelling with him for a bit.”
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Dal Sasso recently posted a number of photos on Instagram from a trip to Miami, where Kokkinakis was playing in the Miami Open. Tellingly, one of the photos showed Dal Sasso sitting court-side during one of Kokkinakis' matches.
Kokkinakis, who famously won the Australian Open doubles title with Nick Kyrgios in 2022, is notoriously secretive about his private life. He inadvertently sparked a social media storm during Indian Wells earlier this month with a Twitter post about women's champion Elena Rybakina.
"Rybakina looks like the nicest girl ever," he tweeted during the post-match ceremony after Rybakina's win over Aryna Sabalenka in the final. After sparking a flood of replies from tennis fans wondering what Kokkinakis' intentions were, the Aussie clarified: "Not having a crack, relaaaax," with a laughing emoji.
Thanasi Kokkinakis' brutal exit from Miami Open
Kokkinakis' run at the Miami Open came to an end in brutal fashion after losing to World No.9 Hubert Hurkacz in three sets that all went to tie-breakers. Kokkinakis blew five match points on his way to a 6-7 (8-10) 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (8-6) loss.
It looked like Kokkinakis wouldn't be playing in the main draw in Miami at all after he lost in qualifying, but he was handed a huge reprieve when a lucky loser spot opened up after a late withdrawal. He made the most of the wildcard by beating Zizou Bergs in the opening round, before a gutting loss to Hurkacz.
The Aussie had saved six set points to win the first set, before 2021 champion Hurkacz saved three match points in the second and another two in the final-set breaker. "It’s tough to explain for me. I was just trying to stay in there and compete, play some good shots," Hurkacz said after the match.
Kokkinakis recently got back into the top 100 after winning a Challenger event in Chennai. However he is projected to fall to World No.105 following his exit in Miami.
"I've been feeling happy on court the past couple of weeks and made a pact with myself to at least compete, no matter how I'm feeling," he said after his win in the first round in Miami. "My tennis is fine, it's just my head.
"I'm just trying to give myself every chance. The crowd got behind me and without them I wouldn't have pulled through. I'm happy I live to fight another day."
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