Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis is facing a court battle over his right to use Special K nickname commercially.

A directions hearing between breakfast cereal giant Kellogg, which owns the right to the Special K trademark in Australia, and Kokkinakis will take place in the Federal Court in Adelaide on Thursday.

Kellogg wants to stop the 21-year-old from using the term Special K as part of a branding campaign of clothing and tennis wear, the Adelaide Advertiser says.

Camera Icon Thanasi Kokkinakis in action during the French Open. Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images