Novak Djokovic: Australian Open preparation starts at Kooyong Classic

Novak Djokovic will return to the court for his first competitive match in more than six months when the 2018 Kooyong Classic gets underway next week.

Novak Djokovic will look to return to full fitness at next week’s Kooyong Classic Picture: Shaun Botterill (Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic will return to the court for his first competitive match in more than six months when the 2018 Kooyong Classic gets underway next week.

A winner of 12 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic, 30, will look to put a longtime elbow injury behind him before this year’s Australian Open.

Djokovic will play two matches at Kooyong this week as he does all he can to ready himself for the Australian Open, a tournament he has won five times in the past seven years.

The former world No.1 recently withdrew from events in Abu Dhabi and Qatar to concentrate on rehabilitating his right elbow after it forced him to retire from the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

“Novak has obviously needed to change his schedule to give himself every chance to be 100 per cent fit by day one of the Australian Open. Hopefully the two matches at Kooyong will provide the right preparation for him,” tournament director Peter Johnston said.

“It’s certainly going to be a real treat for the fans to welcome him back to the Kooyong Classic.”

Novak Djokovic has battled injury problems over the past few years and recently took six months out of the game. Picture: Glyn Kirk (AFP)

Currently ranked No.12 in the world, the Serbian will be more than keen to start 2018 without further injury problems after 2017 became the first year since 2010 where he didn’t manage to win a Grand Slam event.

An elite group of players from the world top 10 are set to put on a show for fans in the 30th anniversary edition of the Classic, which got underway today.

The men’s draw is led by defending Kooyong champion David Goffin (Belgium), who recently made the final of the ATP Tour Finals after defeating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Those wins took the Belgian to No.7 in the ATP rankings, just behind world No.5 and 2017 Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic (Croatia), and world No.6 Dominic Thiem (Austria), both of whom are also playing at Kooyong this week.

This year’s event also includes a women’s competition headed by Australian teenager Destanee Aiava, and Switzerland’s former world No.7 Belinda Bencic.

What: 2018 Kooyong Classic

When: Tuesday, January 9 – Friday, January 12

Where: Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, Glenferrie Road, Kooyong