Kooyong Classic: Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios will clash for the very first time at Kooyong

Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios will clash for the very first time when they do battle on Kooyong’s centre court this week after the announcement of the draw for this year’s Kooyong Classic.

Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios will clash for the very first time when they do battle on Kooyong’s centre court this week after the announcement of the draw for this year’s Kooyong Classic was made on Sunday.

The former Australian Davis Cup teammates will use the Classic as their final tune-up for the Australian Open later this month.

KYRGIOS ADDED TO FIELD AT KOOYONG

Former Australia Davis Cup teammates Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios are set to do battle in this week’s Kooyong Classic Picture: William West

Kyrgios was a late addition to the field, replacing Argentina’s Juan Martín del Potro who was forced to withdraw from both the Classic and the Australian Open after failing to recover from a knee injury suffered in the Shanghai Masters last October.

Tournament director Peter Johnston said the event would give both players the ideal hitout prior to the first Grand Slam of the year as well as providing a little extra for fans.

“For both guys it’s their last competitive match before next week’s Australian Open, so their focus will be on making sure their games are ready,” he said.

Bernard Tomic is a past winner of the Kooyong Classic Picture: Shuji Kajiyama

“At the same time, it will be fun for the fans to watch it play-out given they have never gone head-to-head before.”

Tomic and Kyrgios will be joined by World No. 6 Kevin Anderson and No. 7 Marin Cilic at the annual lead-up tournament to the Australian Open. Competition in men’s singles, women’s singles and, for the first time, doubles starts tomorrow (11am) and will continue until Thursday.

The Tomic v Kyrgios clash is set for Wednesday (time yet to be announced).

Tomorrow’s first day of competition will open with a clash between Tomic and American Jack Sock followed by a women’s clash between Amanda Anisimova (USA) and Britain’s Katie Boulter

Australian Jason Kubler will then do battle with Serbia’s Janko Tipsarević before doubles competition will make its first appearance at the Classic with Bernard and Sara Tomic taking on John and Sally Peers.

Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur will round out the day’s play.

THE KOOYONG FIELD

Women: CoCo Vandeweghe (USA), Peng Shuai (CHI), Amanda Anisimova (USA), Sorana Cîrstea (ROM), Katie Boulter (GBR)

Men: Kevin Anderson (RSA), Marin Čilić (CRO), Damir Džumhur (BIH), Bernard Tomic (AUS), Nick Kyrgios (AUS), Jack Sock (USA), Janko Tipsarević (SRB), Feliciano López (ESP), Jason Kubler (AUS), Filip Krajinovic (SRB)

Double: John Peers (AUS)/Sally Peers (AUS), Bernard Tomic (AUS)/Sara Tomic (AUS)