Wimbledon 2015: Kokkinakis takes plenty of lessons playing alongside Hewitt

Team mates: Lleyton Hewitt and Thanasi Kokkinakis in action together at WImbledon. Photo: Getty Images

Thanasi Kokkinakis was six years old when Lleyton Hewitt won Wimbledon.

"I was six when Cashy won it," Hewitt announces mid press-conference, interrupting the teenager.

After four hours on court in the first round of the men's doubles, victorious of course, they were already finishing each other's sentences.

Memories: Thanasi Kokkinakis has fond memories of Lleyton Hewitt circa 2005. Photo: Ray Kennedy

It's fitting that in Hewitt's final Wimbledon, he will go out playing doubles alongside Kokkinakis in his maiden appearance at The All England Club.

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Yesterday's hero alongside tomorrow's superstar.

For Kokkinakis, the experience and lesson learnt by playing alongside the retiring Australian veteran for the first time is one that he will carry closely with him into the future.

"It was unbelievable, as soon as I got the call up I jumped at the opportunity," Kokkinakis said.

"Anytime you can play with someone like that, who has done so much for us and tennis and tennis in Australia, it's huge. It was good playing with him.

"He shows leadership out there. He's always fighting, always hungry, doesn't miss a return or a volley. It makes my job a lot easier."

Kokkinakis didn't pick up a tennis racquet until he was six.

His memories of Hewitt's triumph at Wimbledon in 2002 are vague, but the 34-year-old still features heavily in childhood recollections of the sport

"The only thing I remember, I wasn't playing tennis then so I didn't think much of it," Kokkinakis said of Hewitt's Wimbledon victory.

"The only thing I remember is him having a shaved head holding up the trophy. He looked so young. I'm not sure what age I was but I always remember watching him on TV and the Australian Open.

"My first real big memory was in '05. I think it was the year he was wearing the Nike gear - the blue and the white and I loved the shoes.

"He actually went down to one of my other favourite players, [Marat] Safin, in the final. That was my biggest memory I remember, the Australian Open.

"It was unbelievable playing with him. He obviously has great, great memories here so it was good after such a tough match he had in the first round, it was good to go out and win here."