Djokovic picks new format for Australian Open warm-up

AFP

Published at 02:07 pm December 20th, 2017

Djokovic picks new format for Australian Open warm-up

Former world number one Novak Djokovic will warm-up for a tilt at a record seventh Australian Open crown by playing in an innovative quickfire event at the Melbourne venue. Djokovic, who has been sidelined since July with a right elbow injury, is making his long-awaited return to the game at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi from December 28-30. The Serbian world number 12 and volatile Australian Nick Kyrgios will headline the eight-man Tie Break Tens tournament at Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park on January 10.

#Djokovic will arrive in Melbourne at his lowest ranking in a decade, but armed with a new team and a fresh lease on his tennis career, he arrives at the 2018 Australian Open determined to create more historyhttps://t.co/mtHC2iOA7u
— Live Tennis (@livetennis) December 19, 2017

Each match will last for one tiebreak, with the first player to 10 points winning. The entire tournament will be completed on the night, and the winner will pocket US$250,000.

Novak Djokovic warms up for Australian Open with a ‘tie-breaker tournament’.https://t.co/s7QE2ZBM46 pic.twitter.com/12EaelDTpF
— The Field (@thefield_in) December 20, 2017

The Australian debut of the novel format comes after three previous events in London, Vienna and Madrid. Kyrgios, who brought an early end to his season in October because of a long-standing hip injury, said the tournament "really suits my game style". "I am looking forward to having some fun with it and I reckon the crowds will really get into it," he added. The Australian Open's tournament director Craig Tiley said he was absolutely thrilled the format would feature in Melbourne, adding that it was "fast, its flashy and heaps of fun for everyone". The Australian Open begins at Melbourne Park on January 15.