There’s someone that’s a warrior then there’s someone who is just plain ignorant. Thanasi Kokkinakis was on the verge of being the latter during his match against 12th-seeded Richard Gasquet. Cramps in the middle of the fourth set severely hampered the teen. Despite Mohamed Lahyani’s objections to continue playing, the Aussie carried on before retiring down 2-0 in the fifth to the Frenchman.

It was a frustrating loss for the Aussie teen as he was leading two sets to one before the cramps hit him. It may have been all better in the end for him as he didn’t compromise his health and potentially career in the end by retiring.

Kokkinakis flies out to the opening set lead

This match had potential upset written all over it due to Kokkinakis’ talent. In the opening set, all the teen needed was one break of serve to take the set 6-4. It was absolute efficiency at its finest winning 100 percent of his first serve points and over 80 percent of his second serve points.

Gasquet rebounds to take the second set

It seemed as if the mountainous first set completely took the steam out of Kokkinakis, who got broken in the second game of the second set in lieu of his three unforced errors. Gasquet now put his foot on the accelerator and took full advantage of the situation, winning eight straight points on his serve and breaking Kokkinakis again in his next service game with two exquisite backhand winners. He hit eleven winners in total during the set and lost just one point on his first serve.

After consolidating the double break he raced to a 5-0 lead, but the Australian youngster avoided a bagel by holding his serve in the sixth game. Gasquet then closed out the set 6-1, ending it with a volley winner, and the match was level.

The Aussie teen moves closer to victory

In the fourth game, Kokkinakis once again to find away to break the serve of Gasquet. Three errors in that fourth game did the Frenchman in to as Kokkinakis took a 3-1 lead. However, Gasquet broke right back and consolidated for 3-all. The Aussie teen broke in the final game of the set to move within a set of a major upset.

Cramps hamper Kokkinakis

After the first three holds of serve, Kokkinakis began to look extremely hurt. Gasquet won three games on the trot, including a break of serve in the fifth game. In those three games, Gasquet won 12 straight points so Lahyani could have called Kokkinakis for unprofessional conduct.

The Aussie won seventh game by going for broke but had trouble getting to the chair. He received a leg massage and ate a banana on the changeover, but it was to no avail as he dropped the set 6-3.

The Aussie retires

Before the fifth set started, Kokkinakis was bundled over. Lahyani told him that his health was more important than the match, but the teen battled on. Gasquet was very sportsmanlike taking his time during points. After the first game, in which Gasquet held, Kokkinakis got some goo and power bars on the changeover. He continued hitting weak and underhand serves, which he started doing in the fourth set but was broken. He threw his racket in frustration as he shook his head and could not carry on anymore. Gasquet will face Robin Haase in his next match.