Tennis News: Australian duo Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios win Atlanta Open doubles

They took on fellow countrymen Jason Kubler and John Peers and beat them 7-6(4) 7-5. The pair, who don't usually team up, overcame fellow Aussies and recent Wimbledon champions Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in the quarter-finals. 

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis thrashed Americans Rajeev Ram and Jack Sock earlier in the semi-final match to set up the all-American final. The Australians, affectionately called the "Special Ks," won their semi-final and final in seven hours to grab the ATP 250. 

They were forced to cancel their plans to play at Wimbledon in July but paired up in Atlanta despite Kyrgios' injury that saw him leave the singles draw. 

The all-Australian final was a stern test on both ends

The first set of the Atlanta Open final was devoid of service breaks, with Kyrgios and Kokkinakis finally winning the tie-break 7-4. The second set had a similar pace before the Special Ks pocketed a decisive break in the end to win the match. 

Kubler and Peers kept the winning duo on their toes throughout the match but failed to convert any of the four break points they earned. The game marked the first all-Australian doubles final on the ATP Tour since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde's win against Wayne Arthurs and Sandon Stolle for the Hamburg trophy in 2000.

Kyrgios' happiness was evident in his words: "Obviously Atlanta is a special place. I won the singles title here [in 2016] and now the doubles. The crowd's amazing, and it was a new experience playing two matches in one day as well for a title."

His partner, Kokkinakis, added, "Stoked to have won the Atlanta doubles title with Nick. It's always a pleasure playing with him. The second title for the year, and I think we're getting better."

Another Australian, Alex de Minaur, won the singles title in the evening. The last time Australians won the singles and doubles crowns at a tour-level event was Bogota in 2014 when Bernard Tomic won the singles draw, and Sam Groth paired up with Chris Guccione triumphed in doubles.

What's in store for Kyrgios and Kokkinakis now?

After winning the Australian Open together as the season took off in 2022, they are now 13-2 as a team in 2022. The Atlanta doubles champions will part ways until the US Open begins in late August. 

Kyrgios is participating in the Citi Open in Washington and is teaming up with American Jack Sock in the men's doubles. In the meantime, Kokkinakis is headed towards Mexico, competing in the Los Cabos Open singles as the tournament's seventh-seed.