Nick Kyrgios commits to million-dollar Las Vegas event
Darren Walton |
Nick Kyrgios will continue his exhibition tour in Las Vegas as he battles to revive his professional career.
Kyrgios will join an eight-man field headlined by American world No.6 Taylor Fritz at the MGM Slam on March 1 next year.
The exhibition will feature a 10-point tiebreak knockout format, with the field playing for a $US1 million prize pool.
Kyrgios and Fritz will be joined by Norway’s Casper Ruud, Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti and Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik.
After playing just six tour matches in more than three years, Kyrgios last month revealed to AAP that he had recovered from career-threatening knee and wrist injuries and was hoping to play next month’s Australian Open and Brisbane International.
The 2022 former Wimbledon finalist said he was hoping to prove his fitness during exhibitions in the US this month against Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton and in a much-hyped “Battles of the Sexes” showdown with women’s world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai on December 28.
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has all but promised Kyrgios a wildcard, saying the 30-year-old was a proven drawcard for fans.
In its third year, the MGM Slam has featured several high-profile match-ups, including last year’s showcase between Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka, and one of Rafael Nadal’s final appearances before his retirement.
The event comes at a time when tennis is facing criticism over its relentless tour schedule.
In March, the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) filed a lawsuit against the sport’s governing bodies, including the ATP and WTA, labelling the crowded calendar unsustainable.
Nevertheless, exhibition matches continue to be scheduled.
World No.1 Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who have won nine of the past 10 grand slam titles between them, will meet in South Korea in January.
The exhibition, which takes place eight days before the Australian Open, has featured tennis greats such as Roger Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova.
With Reuters
AAP
