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Thanasi Kokkinakis’ journey is a lesson in suffering and faith

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Thanasi Kokkinakis competing in the first round of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis is no stranger to adversity.  

His career has been a series of highs and lows, defined as much by his talent as by the injuries that have repeatedly robbed him of the chance to fully realise his potential.  

However, his recent setback—a torn pectoral muscle—might be the most heart-wrenching chapter yet.  

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The ongoing injury, which reared its head before the Australian Open, reached a breaking point during Kokkinakis’ second-round marathon against the UK’s Jack Draper.  

The five-set thriller on 15 January ended in a loss for the South Australian, leaving him visibly dejected.  

Even then, Kokkinakis attempted to persevere, partnering with Nick Kyrgios in doubles the following day. But the pain proved too much, forcing him to retire mid-match.  

Watching the Australian suffer—knowing his potential could one day place him among the sport’s elite—truly brought about in me a profound sense of sorrow.  

It’s a painful sight: a young man who has dedicated his life to his craft, overcome countless obstacles, and yet remains unable to reach his full potential due to circumstances beyond his control.  

But upon reflection, Kokkinakis’ journey isn’t just one of sorrow. It’s a journey that provides a profound lens through which to examine our own lives and struggles.  

Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

As fans, we often recognise athletes who overcome immense challenges, hailing their suffering as part of their greatness.  

If Thanasi in this case eventually overcomes these hurdles and reaches the pinnacle of the sport, it would earn him praise and admiration, and rightly so.  

So why is it that when we face our own suffering and setbacks, we often view them differently, responding with complaints?  

Instead of embracing suffering as a means of growth, we wonder why God allows such hardships and sometimes even question his goodness.  

As Catholics, we are called to see suffering differently—not as a punishment but as an invitation.  

Through suffering, we are drawn closer to God, who not only understands our pain but has shared in it through the passion and death of his Son. In uniting our struggles with Christ’s, we find a deeper sense of purpose and a wellspring of grace to persevere.  

Of course, this perspective doesn’t diminish the difficulty of suffering, nor does it promise the outcome we might desire.  

What if, for example, God’s plan for Kokkinakis doesn’t involve Grand Slam glory? What if the prayers for his healing and success are answered with a “no?”  

While Kokkinakis may dream of lifting a trophy, God might have a different, better calling for him. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

It’s a hard reality to accept, but it’s one rooted in trust—trust that God’s plans for us are far greater than we can comprehend.  

While Kokkinakis may dream of lifting a trophy, God might have a different, better calling for him.  

The same is true for us: we may long for one path, but God, in his wisdom, may guide us down another, one that leads to a deeper joy and eternal significance.  

Thanasi Kokkinakis’ journey reminds us that suffering isn’t the end of the story.  

It’s a chapter in a much larger narrative; one authored by a God who loves us and sees beyond our limited perspective.  

Whether Kokkinakis’ career culminates in tennis glory or takes a different turn, his story challenges us to trust in God’s plan, to embrace our own struggles with faith, and to believe that every “no” is ultimately leading us toward something far greater than we could imagine. 

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