Kokkinakis pays dearly for bizarre brain-fade

Thanasi Kokkinakis has been left to rue a bizarre brain-fade in the final set which cost him a win against countryman Alex Bolt in the opening round of the Murray River Open.

Kokkinakis' error came at a crucial time in the deciding set, allowing Bolt to run away a 2-6 6-4 6-3 winner after dropping the opening set of the match.

With Bolt holding a break point and a 3-2 lead in the final set, Kokkinakis bizarrely left a ball that landed on the line thinking that it was going to fly over the baseline.

He immediately realised his mistake, scratching his head with his hands but that was all Bolt needed.

Alex Bolt

Australian tennis great Todd Woodbridge was left in disbelief by Kokkinakis' decision to not play at the ball on the baseline.

"Goodness me, what an error," he said on commentary for Nine.

"I'm pretty sure Kokkinakis thought that would be out and then saw it land on the line," his co-commentator added.

Bolt was extremely ruthless from that point onwards, winning the next two games to consolidate his break before serving out the match with aplomb.

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