MORE: Ifs? Buts? Stop the excuses Tomic
Overcoming a late-match tumble and three match points, Kokkinakis came back from two-sets-to-love down to win 3-6 3-6 6-3 6-4 8-6 against a disappointed Tomic.
The Adelaide teenager fell on his racquet late in the fourth set resulting in a bloodied and bruised right hip which amplified his frustration at missing chances.
"Every time I didn't take a break point it was like someone shot an arrow into me," Kokkinakis said.
"At one point I said, 'Get me off the court'. Luckily I didn't."
Tomic sprinted to a 5-2 lead in the fifth and deciding set with Kokkinakis looking down and out.
But in a damning statement against Tomic, the injured Kokkinakis felt he was in better condition than his Australian counterpart.
"I kept hanging in there. I felt like I was in better physical shape than he is," he said.
"I trusted my fitness and it paid off."
The 19-year-old's reward is a third round contest against world No.1 Novak Djokovic.
The aptly-named Kokkinakis was lauded on social media for his gutsy victory.
@TKokkinakis celebrates his ripper 5-set #FrenchOpen comeback win over Tomic with, um, shall we call it "The Kokk"? pic.twitter.com/2dy9djl5YK
— Darren Walton (@DarrenWalton369) May 28, 2015
How's about that Kokk??
— Lola (@MsLolaLeo) May 28, 2015
France loves the Kokk
— Anthony Miller (@a_miller16) May 28, 2015
"The Kokk" is rapidly taking after that other bloke from Adelaide @lleytonhewitt #HasPlentyOfTicker #AussiesOnTheUp
— Eoin McNamara (@team_hewitt1) May 28, 2015
Djok would be the true measure for Kokk.
— On the Manney (@OnTheManney) May 28, 2015
THE KOKK DEFEATED TOMIC
— ☆ viv ☆ (@vivianpoop) May 28, 2015
GET ON THE KOKK, third round here we come @TKokkinakis #RG2015 #getonthekokk #hustle
— Josh Lynott (@JoshLynott) May 28, 2015
