Kooyong Classic: Nick Kyrgios to replace injured Juan Martín del Potro

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios will replace Juan Martín del Potro in the men’s field for this week’s Kooyong Classic, the Argentinian star forced to withdraw after failing to recover from a knee injury.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios will replace Juan Martín del Potro in the men’s field for this week’s Kooyong Classic, the Argentinian star forced to withdraw after failing to recover from a knee injury suffered late last year.

The injury, a fractured knee sustained at the Shanghai Masters in October, has also forced the World No. 5 to pull out of the Australian Open.

FIELD COMING TOGETHER FOR KOOYONG

WILL BAD BOYS CLASH IN THE CLASSIC

Nick Kyrgios has been added to the Kooyong Classic field Picture: Dan Peled (AAP)

Kyrgios will now use the Kooyong Classic for his final tune-up for the Australian Open and tournament director Peter Johnston was delighted to add the Australian to the field.

“With Del Potro withdrawing it created some room in our player field and then Nick was looking for some more match time to round out his Australian Open preparation,” he said. “So we were more than happy to oblige.

“We are looking forward to welcoming him down to Kooyong for the Classic, and hope it provides a springboard to a great 2019 Australian Open for him.”

Kyrgios joins World No. 6 Kevin Anderson, No. 7 Marin Čilić, fellow Australian Bernard Tomic and a host of male and female stars at the tournament that begins on Tuesday.

The Classic will run until Thursday at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong.

Injury has forced Juan Martin Del Potro out of the Kooyong Classic and the Australian Open. Picture: NICOLAS ASFOURI

THE FIELD

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

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)

Doubles: John Peers (AUS)/Sally Peers (AUS); Bernard Tomic (AUS)/Sara Tomic (AUS)