KOOYONG, January 7, 2018 (Press Release)

The first player born this century to play in a Grand Slam, Destanee Aiava, returns to her home court at Kooyong next week for the 2018 Priceline Pharmacy Kooyong Classic ahead of her second Australian Open campaign.

She will be joined by fellow Australian Matt Ebden, the second highest ranked male singles player in the country, who will make his debut at Kooyong as the Australian Open tune up celebrates its 30^th anniversary from January 9 – 12 with a truly world-class tournament.

Nadal Set For Kooyong Debut

The men’s draw is loaded featuring five of the top 10 players in the world including World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and two-time defending Kooyong champion David Goffin, who recently made the final at the ATP Tour Finals.

Also playing is 12-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic who has chosen Kooyong to test his fitness ahead of the Australian Open following a six-month injury lay-off.

Switzerland’s former world number seven Belinda Bencic, who is currently in action with Roger Federer at the Hopman Cup, and former world number nine Andrea Petkovic from Germany feature in the women’s draw.

Aiava won the qualifying event last month to confirm her spot at her second major at just 17 years of age, while Ebden is coming off a pair of Challenger Tour wins in November following his first trip to an ATP Tour final in Newport.

On Monday join the Kooyong Foundation scholarship holder Aiava, along with the in-form Ebden and Australian tennis legend Pat Cash, who was the first winner of the tournament in 1988.

Tournament director Peter Johnston will also be on hand for the release of the schedule for the first two days and to preview the 2018 event.