WHILE the late withdrawal of the injured John Isner ended the US's Hopman Cup campaign, it did provide fans with an opportunity to watch an emerging teenager who could yet prove to be an elite talent.

It is doubtful anyone barring those with a keen interest in Thanasi Kokkinakis would have heard of the South Australian until he stepped on to court against Fernando Verdasco as a replacement for Isner. Nor could they have guessed the scenario that Isner's minor knee injury would force upon organisers.

An Australian teenager with a Greek name was making his Hopman Cup debut for the US in partnership with Venus Williams.

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So instead it was Verdasco, a former Australian Open semi-finalist, against Kokkinakis, a 16-year-old ranked 1270 in the world. And that is in junior ranks.

That, however, is barely an accurate measure for the South Australian has spent much of his teenage years playing against men and has a senior ranking of 756. Those in charge of tennis in Adelaide are well aware he is a prodigy. As one coach noted to The Australian yesterday, "He is a gun."

On yesterday's performance - Kokkinakis pushed Verdasco before falling 7-6 (4) 6-3 - Australia may well have another player capable of joining Bernard Tomic in the top 100 in coming years.

Verdasco, certainly, was impressed.

"I know that he's 16-years-old and he's so young but he (has a) great stroke that normally 16-year-old guys don't have," Verdasco said. "The serve that he has is . . . professional, it's like much better than many professionals.

"He will be like a great player if he can keep going like that. He's so young . . . but like I said, he has unbelievable serves for his age and a very good forehand and backhand."

To be fair to organisers, Isner had hoped to play but withdrew in the hope he can be fit in time for the Australian Open.

"I don't necessarily know if it's tendonitis," Isner said.

"It's sore and it's caused me a little bit of trouble and from that I'm not able to really load the right way and I'm not really going for my shots like I should.

"My plan now is just to treat it as best I can and see how it reacts. I do know I've always been a fast healer when I've had little injuries pop up so I'm confident I'm going to be fine for the Australian Open.

"It's not a great way to start the year but I'd rather it happen this week than in two weeks (at the Australian Open)."

In the women's singles, Venus Williams maintained her unbeaten record in Perth by defeating Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-4. Williams was taken to three sets in her opening two singles wins but has shown improvement since arriving in Australia and will arrive in Melbourne in good form.

"After this match I feel great," she said.