Kooyong Classic celebrates 30 years with Nadal and Djokovic

The 2018 Priceline Pharmacy Kooyong Classic is celebrating its 30th anniversary in style hosting five of the top 10 male players in the world, the first player born this century to play in a Grand Slam, the youngest player in the Australian Open and two of the all-time tennis greats who together have collected 28 Grand Slam titles. World No.1 Rafael Nadal will get a vital Australian Open tune-up when he takes on Richard Gasquet of France on Tuesday. Twelve-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will also hit the famous Kooyong centre court in preparation for the Australian Open, taking on world No.6 Dominic Thiem of Austria on Wednesday. Tournament director Peter Johnston is beyond pleased with the draws for the tournament’s anniversary after fielding calls over the last few weeks from the most sought-after managers in world tennis. “The draw is an embarrassment of riches really, I can’t believe it, with five of the top 10 men not including Novak, it’s just been an incredible response this year,” Johnston said at the press conference on Monday morning. “There’s so many other events on at this time of year now, yet there is still an opportunity for Kooyong because it offers two matches or even just a match for players to prepare for the Australian Open. “I do want to thank Destanee for playing again this year, a product of Kooyong, an amazing year she’s had to win the wildcard playoff and get to the final in the Australian juniors, she’s done the hard yards to get into the Open.” Johnston confirmed that Australian Bernard Tomic would play a Fast4 three-set match to conclude the Kooyong programme on Tuesday against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. “We wanted Bernard to play down here, he was due to play qualifiers, I’m not sure of that status but he’s playing a tune-up match if you like for the fourth match here to round out Tuesday,” Johnston added.