Former Kooyong champion Fernando Verdasco is the sixth name to confirm his entry into the 2015 Priceline Pharmacy Classic.
A former Australian Open semi-finalist, the Toledo native will return to Kooyong looking to emulate his title run from five years ago ahead of his campaign at the site of his most successful Grand Slam run to date.
He becomes the second left-handed Spaniard to join the field, hot on the heels of the announcement world No.14 and Davis Cup teammate Feliciano Lopez would contest the eight-man competition, with tickets, priced from $20, now on sale at kooyongclassic.com.au.
As a former world No.7, Verdasco becomes the sixth player in the line-up to have been ranked in the top 15 and will join defending champion and US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori, flamboyant Frenchmen Richard Gasquet and Giles Simon and the gifted Ukrainian shot-maker Alexandr Dolgopolov for the event, which runs from Tuesday, January 13 to Friday, January 16, 2015.
In 2010, Verdasco became the first Spaniard to win the Kooyong event, when he defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final to join the likes of Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras on the honour roll.
“When you taste success at an event it’s always special to come back to and I find the courts, the crowd and the whole atmosphere at Kooyong are the perfect lead-up to the Australian Open,” Verdasco said.
“It means you get the extra match practice in Melbourne with the guarantee of a few matches.”
In April, the 30-year-old snapped a six-match losing streak in ATP World Tour finals to down his countryman Nicolas Almagro to claim the Houston title, his first title since Barcelona in 2010.
He found further success on the clay, beating fellow Kooyong participant Gasquet in the third round at Roland Garros before falling to Andy Murray.
Tournament Director Brian Cooney said welcoming Verdasco again to the Priceline Pharmacy Classic – Kooyong fray served to bolster an already impressive mix of young talent and experience.
“Fernando proved a popular winner here when he lifted the trophy in 2010 so he’ll no doubt have his sights set on doing that again,” Cooney said.
“He has long been one of the tour’s most popular players down here in Australia, especially after that Australian Open semifinal where he played some incredible tennis to go close to beating Rafael Nadal.”
Tickets start at just $20 and are on sale now at kooyongclassic.com.au
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Verdasco in the mix for Priceline Pharmacy Classic
