Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro, currently injured, will return to the tennis court at the exhibition tournament in Kooyong, Australia.
The fifth in the world rankings is currently still suffering from a knee injury he suffered in Shanghai in his last 16 against Borna Coric. Del Potro broke his right kneecap in a bad fall.
But Gaucho, who has often been injured, has already put his focus on the coming season and planned his first tournament appearances for 2019. The US Open Champion of the Year 2009 will open his season at the Exhibition Tournament in Kooyong, which will take place from 8 to 10 January.
Kevin Anderson and Marin Cilic, among others, will also be competing in the Melbourne district. Del Potro last competed in Kooyong in 2013. At that time the 30-year-old had to admit defeat in the final of the Australian legend Lleyton Hewitt.
“DelPo’s commitment is a big one for us, as he was not seen too often in Melbourne due to his injury. He is a heavyweight in men’s tennis and an incredible talent,” tournament director Peter Johnston told the Herald Sun.
Del Potro is one of the few top players to forgo tournament participation in the first week of the year. Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem will compete in Doha, Rafael Nadal will try his luck in Brisbane and Roger Federer, like Alexander Zverev, will again compete in the Hopman Cup in Perth.
A few days after the warm-up in Kooyong it will be really exciting for the first time in the new season: From 14 to 27 January 2019 the first Grand Slam tournament of the year will take place in Melbourne. The defending champion at the Australian Open is Roger Federer of Switzerland.