Mark Philippoussis says that 19-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis won’t feel pressure in 2016. The Australian is currently ranked No. 80, with only three teenagers inside the Top 100.
Now retired, Philippoussis reached the 1998 U.S. Open final and 2003 Wimbledon final. He was ranked as high as No. 8.
"There’s no pressure. For people to have expectations on you is a beautiful thing, but in the end it’s up to him how he does and how hard he works and how much he wants it," Philippoussis told the <em>Adelaide Advertiser</em>. "But I believe that he can improve a lot even though he’s pretty rounded. He’s just going to get better. He’s strong and he had a breakout year when people started to notice him. I believe next year he’s going to have an even bigger year. The world is his oyster."
Kokkinakis recently split with his coach Todd Langman and will work with Ben Mathias, according to the *Sydney Morning Herald*.
Philippoussis meanwhile, is excited to keep watching Kokkinakis improve.
"You can tell he’s going to be a very strong, muscular player and has big things in store, I believe," Philippoussis said. "It will be exciting to sit back and watch him."