Young gun Thanasi Kokkinakis has helped prolong Lleyton Hewitt's Wimbledon career by partnering the veteran to a spirited first-round doubles win at the All England Club.

Kokkinakis, 19, and Hewitt, 34, battled back from two sets down to defeat the 13th-seeded duo of Croatian M Draganja and Finn H Kontinen 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 8-6 on Thursday.

The match lasted three hours and 53 minutes and followed Hewitt's sapping four-hour, five-set first-round singles loss to Jarkko Nieminen on Monday.

The former world No.1 is contesting his 17th and final Wimbledon, while Kokkinakis made the singles main draw for the first time this year.

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Struggling with an intestinal infection, Kokkinakis also bowed out in the opening round of the singles but gained a first-hand lesson in fighting spirit playing alongside one of the game's most fiercest competitors.

The victory also gives Davis Cup captain Wally Masur another option for Australia's grasscourt quarter-final tie against Kazakhstan in Darwin the week after Wimbledon.