Controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios has confirmed his participation in the 2016 edition of the Priceline Pharmacy Kooyong Classic.
The world number 42, who has been ranked as high as 25, will take part in an expanded 12 player format. Kyrgios has posted some strong results this season, including a quarter-final at the Australian Open. He also has three top ten wins this season, having beaten Roger Federer, Milos Raonic, and Stan Wawrinka. Kyrgios was also a beaten finalist in Estoril.
Kyrgios will also be joined by former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, two time Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet, and former world number 6 Gilles Simon. Simon and Gasquet both played last year’s event, with Gasquet winning the third-place playoff.
Though the Kooyong Classic offers no ATP points, it is favoured by many top players due to its format. It gurantees multiple matches even for those who lose their opener. This is crucial as it is one of the first events of the season preceding the opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open, in Melbourne.
Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi are some of the biggest names who have used the Kooyong Classic as their tune-up for the Australian Open. Kei Nishikori was the highest ranked player in last year’s draw, which was won by Fernando Verdasco. The other eight players for the 2016 event have yet to be confirmed.
