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Richard Gasquet, Alexander Dolgopolov and Gilles Simon have confirmed they will join defending champion Kei Nishikori in the line up at the 2015 Priceline Pharmacy Classic – Kooyong.

The quartet leads what promises to be a world class field at Kooyong, with tickets, priced from $20, now on sale at kooyongclassic.com.au for the fan-favourite event which takes place from Tuesday January 13 to Friday January 16, 2015.

World No.6 Nishikori is keen to emulate the success he enjoyed at Kooyong in 2014 – the tournament that kick-started the most successful year of his career so far. “I am looking forward to returning to Kooyong next year,” said the popular 24-year-old who made history when he became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam final at the US Open last month.

“Kooyong was the start of a great season for me and I was very proud to emulate my mentor Michael Chang who won the tournament three times in the 1990s. Getting in early with some competitive matches at Kooyong is the perfect way to prepare for the Australian summer of tennis, and to get used to the Melbourne conditions and weather which can be challenging at that time of year,” said Nishikori.

A mainstay of the French Davis Cup team, world No.22 Gasquet has won all four rubbers he's contested across the first round and semi-finals of this year's competition to help steer his nation to the finals for a seventeenth time in the history of the men's team competition.

In 2014 Gasquet reached the twenty-first and twenty-second ATP World Tour finals of a career spanning twelve years. “I am very pleased to return to Kooyong for the Priceline Pharmacy Classic,” said Gasquet. “I really enjoyed the tournament and the stadium court and the support we get from the fans is outstanding. It's a great place to get ready for the Australian Open.”

Dolgopolov has enjoyed mixed fortunes in 2014, recording the biggest win of his career at Indian Wells in March where he beat world No.1 Rafael Nadal in the third round, but missing part of the first half of the year due to injuries.

Big serving Dolgopolov, who delivered a record 42 aces during his second-round victory over Benjamin Becker at Wimbledon in June, is currently sitting at No.23 in the world rankings having achieved a career-high No.13 in 2012.

“I'm very excited about playing at Kooyong for the first time,” said Dolgopolov. “I've heard great things about the courts, the venue and the fans and can't wait to hit the court in Melbourne.”

Highlights of former world No.6 Simon's 2014 season included pushing world No.1 Nadal to three sets at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Rome, in what was – at three hours, 19 minutes, the longest three-setter of the year so far. And the 29-year-old Frenchman went on to rock the US Open men's singles draw when he upset No.5 seed David Ferrer in four sets in the third round at the US Open.

Tournament Director, Brian Cooney, said the confirmation of Nishikori, Gasquet, Dolgopolov and Simon in the Priceline Pharmacy Classic – Kooyong draw was exciting news for tennis fans.

“We're delighted to showcase world class tennis at Kooyong and I'm confident these four players are going to put on a great show for local tennis fans and event-goers,” said Cooney. “Nishikori and Dolgopolov are two of the rising stars of the game while Gasquet and Simon bring court craft and experience to the mix,” he said.

Tickets, priced from just $20, are on sale now at kooyongclassic.com.au

The 2015 Priceline Pharmacy Classic – Kooyong takes place at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club from Tuesday January 13 to Friday January 16, 2015, a shift from the tournament's traditional scheduling. The event is a key lead-in to the season-opening Grand Slam – the Australian Open – for the world's top male players.