Thanasi Kokkinakis is officially back on the grand slam big stage after having his US Open blockbuster with Rafael Nadal scheduled as the marquee match on day four.
Kokkinakis will take on Nadal under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium in the feature night match on Thursday (Friday AEST).
While controversial countryman Nick Kyrgios has been shunned to an outside court as the threat of suspension hovers over his title quest, Kokkinakis will be prime time at Flushing Meadows.
And the world No.203 has little time for the doubters who don’t give him a chance of toppling the world No.2 and 18-times grand slam champion.
“I don’t think anyone gave me a chance when I played (Roger) Federer in Miami last year after missing so much time as well,” Kokkinakis said, in reference to his earth-moving victory over the great Swiss.
“Sometimes I think I’m a bit of a lottery, so you never really know what you’re going to get, but I think I have the game to do it.
“Look, it’s definitely going to be tougher over five sets. He’s a hell of a player. It’s going to be a serious task for me.
“But I’m going to go out there and play my game and play aggressive ans see what happens.”
Before suffering his wretched run with injury, Kokkinakis was more than competitive in his last match on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
As a 20-year-old, Kokkinakis made Novak Djokovic sweat in a 6-4 6-4 6-4 loss to the superstar Serb in the third round of the 2015 French Open on Court Philipp Chatrier.
“I feel like I can compete with these guys,” the US Open wildcard said.
If he can pull off one of the great grand slam boilovers, Kokkinakis will play Fernando Verdasco or Hyeon Chung in the third round.