Get to Know Rising Australian Tennis Star Tahlia Kokkinis
February 4 | 5 minute read
Words by The MECCA Memo
MECCA’s presence at the Australian Open 2026 was as much a cultural moment as the tennis itself (you couldn’t miss our three-storey, pink-hued beauty landmark). It’s also where our support of women in sport took centre stage – or should we say court!
We're proud to support 17-year-old Brisbane-based tennis player Tahlia Kokkinis as she steps onto the professional stage. Backing Tahlia reflects what MECCA believes at its heart: that confidence is built through opportunity, support and belief. Through our social change movement MECCA M-POWER, MECCA helps young women feel their best, show up as themselves and access opportunities that help lead the way in representation for women and girls.
Tahlia’s journey is also part of a broader story of support in women’s tennis. In 2025, she was a recipient of the Women’s Tennis Foundation Scholarship – a program created to help remove barriers, build confidence and open doors for young women with big ambitions in the sport. In 2026, MECCA was proud to build on that momentum by sponsoring all four Women’s Tennis Foundation scholarships through MECCA M-POWER, deepening our shared commitment to backing the next generation of women in tennis.
We sat down with Tahlia to talk confidence, resilience and what it really takes to keep striving for her goals, on and off the court.
What has sport done for you in terms of your confidence and how you feel about yourself?
TK: “Seeing women, like the pros – how self-confident they are, how they strike the ball, just being in their presence has inspired me. I think just having those good role models in front of you and looking up to them is something that gives you inspiration and confidence.”
What’s your mindset when you wake up each day?
TK: “Well, to be honest, some days are really hard – and then some days are good because we're all human, we all have different emotions. And I think it's how you bounce back from a setback or when you're feeling unwell, not to stay there for too long. Riding the wave and learning to accept those feelings I think is really important.”
How do you find that motivation?
TK: “It comes from within – like, just that internal motivation that talks to me. Also having my family around me, their support. I think just pushing through.”
TK: “I would say to follow your dreams. And don't be afraid to dream big. And don't let anyone's opinions bring you down. Know that you're amazing just the way you are.”
What has tennis taught you about life?
TK: “I think there's a lot of similar things from tennis to life, like how you deal with adversity or when a point doesn't go your way – how do you sort of just let that go straight away?”
What’s your advice to girls who feel the ups and downs?
TK: “I would just say, like, it's okay. Everyone has a unique journey, so don't always feel like you have to compare [yourself] to others or think you’re a failure because you didn't win this or that. At the end of the day, everyone is different. So, you're not going to have even close to an identical path to someone next to you.”
What does having MECCA’s support mean to you?
TK: “Last year I won the Women's Tennis Foundation Scholarship and honestly, it was such an amazing experience because I got to surround myself with amazing women and people around me. Just knowing that you've got that support and that it's a group of people that want to see young girls and women reach their full potential and shine is honestly just a surreal feeling.”
What makes you feel your best, on and off the court?
TK: “My family, the team around me, even MECCA because it's an amazing feeling knowing that there's a group of people who care about you and your journey and just being a part of that, it gives me confidence as well. I feel grateful to have so many people in my life, and I have the ability to be living my dream.”
In the heart of the Australian Open, we recorded a special one-off tennis episode of Momentum – a podcast series designed to spark fresh conversations around women’s sport, fitness, and health – proudly presented in partnership between Missing Perspectives and MECCA M-POWER.
Hosted by Kat Sasso, the episode brings together three generations of Australian tennis. Tahlia is joined by two-time Olympian and tennis star, Daria Saville, alongside former Australian No.1 and elite coach, Nicole Pratt. Together, the conversation moves between generations – from juniors finding their feet, to seasoned professionals navigating family and comebacks, to coaches shaping the next wave. It explores how the sport is evolving to better support women across every stage of their careers, and what progress in women’s tennis really looks like in 2026.
Hit play to listen to the conversation on your favourite podcast app (like Spotify or Apple Podcasts).
