Tuesday, 17 April 2018:

THANASI KOKKINAKIS of Australia serves in his singles match against David Goffin of Belgium in the 2018 Hopman Cup at Perth Arena in Perth, Australia.

Thanasi Kokkinakis's French Open preparations have taken a hit, with the luckless Australian tennis star needing crutches following his freak fall at the Monte Carlo Masters.

The 22-year-old was also seen at the tournament wearing a leg brace to support his left knee after stumbling over advertising padding during his first-round loss on Monday to Russian world No.38 Karen Khachanov.

After playing on for an entire set, Kokkinakis later took to Twitter to express his frustration with the advertising signs, posting "Gotta move those", but failed to point out he'd been injured.

But it now appears he's in a race against the clock to be fit for the claycourt major beginning in Paris on May 27.

One of only two players this year to have beaten Roger Federer, Kokkinakis has just five weeks to recover for the season's second grand slam event.

Missing another major would be a bitter pill to swallow, with Kokkinakis having played just four slams since 2015 due to a catalogue of wretched injuries.

He was limited to just one match in 2016 after undergoing shoulder surgery on his right serving arm before making a promising comeback at last year's French Open.

He has since risen to 150th in the world having plummeted down to 993 in the rankings during his depressing layoff when he contemplated retirement.

Kokkinakis's victory over Federer came last month in Miami after he charged through qualifying before spectacularly ousting the defending champion and 20-time grand slam winner.

AAP