MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will use the Kooyong Classic starting Tuesday as a convenient emergency stop to gain much-needed match practice as the pair return from injury in time for the Australian Open.
Not since the glory days of Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras nearly two decades ago and more recently Roger Federer, has the long-time exhibition event hosted as distinguished a field.
The upcoming edition will feature five of the world’s top 10, including ATP Finals runner-up and two-time Kooyong champion David Goffin, Austrian Dominic Thiem, Croat Marin Cilic and Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
Under the ad-hoc rules, late additions Nadal and Djokovic will be playing practice matches.
World number one Nadal, who missed the warm-up Brisbane International last week with a knee injury, is set for just one appearance on Tuesday when he faces France’s Richard Gasquet.
Djokovic, who hasn’t played competitively since a right elbow problem forced him to quit Wimbledon in the quarter-finals in July, is due on court on Wednesday to play Thiem.
“The addition of both Novak and Rafa changes our schedule and the way we will run the four days but that’s what Kooyong is all about, we are here to help the players get ready for the Open,” said tournament director Peter Johnston.
The women’s draw, now into a second season after being introduced in 2017, includes new Hopman Cup champion Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, German Andrea Petkovic, Aussie teen Destanee Aiava and young Chinese star Wang Xinyu.
Pat Cash, the 1987 Australian Open winner who now coaches American CoCo. Vandeweghe, serves as official ambassador for the event and said it would be good preparation for Djokovic and Nadal.
“Everyone will be watching Rafa’s legs and Novak’s arm,” he said.
“It can make for a very exciting week of tennis. Both guys had good preparation, they just suffered setbacks. But when those come within a couple of weeks from the Australian Open, it’s a bit of a worry.
“They have to be absolutely ready, players can be quite anxious about it all.”
The first day of play features four matches, with Nadal against Gasquet, Goffin facing Carreno Busta and wayward Australian Bernard Tomic taking on Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.
Among the women, young Australian Aiava plays Petkovic.
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Nadal, Djokovic to test injuries at Kooyong
Nadal, Djokovic to test injuries at Kooyong
Teen Mbaye seals AFCON last-16 victory for Senegal to end Sudan’s fairytale run
TANGIERS: Teenager Ibrahim Mbaye scored four minutes after coming off the bench to clinch a 3-1 victory for Senegal over Sudan in Tangiers on Saturday in the first Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match.
The 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward represented France at age-limit level before switching his international allegiance to Senegal, where his father was born.
Former champions Senegal will face Mali or Tunisia, who meet in Casablanca later on Saturday, in the quarter-finals.
Rattled by an early Aamir Abdallah goal for Sudan, Senegal recovered to lead 2-1 at half-time through a Pape Gueye brace. Mbaye put the outcome beyond doubt after 77 minutes.
It was a predicable result as Senegal are 99 places higher in the world rankings than Sudan, who were representing a country ravaged by civil war since April 2023.
“We played against a very disciplined Sudan team who showed that they got this far on merit. We needed to dig deep to come from a goal down to win,” said Senegal coach Pape Thiaw.
“Now we will focus on the next match and correct some of the mistakes we noted and pursue our goals with intensity.”
Ghana-born Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah said: “I am disappointed with the result, but proud of the effort of my players.
“We played against a very experienced Senegal team, but showed our quality. Despite the result, I am sure the Sudanese people know that we came to this competition and proudly represented them.”
Sudan rocked Senegal by taking a sixth-minute lead through Abdallah, a semi-professional who plays for an Australian second-tier club in Melbourne.
- Gueye brace -
It was a superb goal as the Sudan striker took possession just inside the area and curled the ball over former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and into the net.
Sudan had qualified for the knockout stage as one of the best four third-placed nations despite their players failing to score a single goal in three group matches, although an own goal brought victory over Equatorial Guinea.
A brave save from Sudan goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid on 29 minutes foiled Nicolas Jackson, but Senegal equalized almost immediately.
Former African player of the year Sadio Mane set up Gueye, who equalized with a low shot just inside the right post.
Senegal attacked continuously while Sudan had little to offer going forward in a match watched by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe from South Africa.
The Mauritanian referee pointed to the penalty spot after Abuzaid fouled Ismaila Sarr. However, the decision was reversed after a long VAR review revealed a Senegalese player was offside in the build-up.
Crystal Palace attacker Sarr then scored only to be ruled offside in another let-off for the Sudanese.
Abuzaid was constantly in action and did well to push away a Gueye shot with an outstretched right hand as half-time approached.
There was still time for Gueye to score again, however, and give Senegal a half-time lead in the Mediterranean city.
The Villarreal midfielder side-footed home a cross three minutes into added time.
Senegal introduced Mbaye midway through the second half as they sought the insurance of a third goal. He made an immediate impact, latching on to a long pass and beating Abuzaid at his near post.
The 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward represented France at age-limit level before switching his international allegiance to Senegal, where his father was born.
Former champions Senegal will face Mali or Tunisia, who meet in Casablanca later on Saturday, in the quarter-finals.
Rattled by an early Aamir Abdallah goal for Sudan, Senegal recovered to lead 2-1 at half-time through a Pape Gueye brace. Mbaye put the outcome beyond doubt after 77 minutes.
It was a predicable result as Senegal are 99 places higher in the world rankings than Sudan, who were representing a country ravaged by civil war since April 2023.
“We played against a very disciplined Sudan team who showed that they got this far on merit. We needed to dig deep to come from a goal down to win,” said Senegal coach Pape Thiaw.
“Now we will focus on the next match and correct some of the mistakes we noted and pursue our goals with intensity.”
Ghana-born Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah said: “I am disappointed with the result, but proud of the effort of my players.
“We played against a very experienced Senegal team, but showed our quality. Despite the result, I am sure the Sudanese people know that we came to this competition and proudly represented them.”
Sudan rocked Senegal by taking a sixth-minute lead through Abdallah, a semi-professional who plays for an Australian second-tier club in Melbourne.
- Gueye brace -
It was a superb goal as the Sudan striker took possession just inside the area and curled the ball over former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and into the net.
Sudan had qualified for the knockout stage as one of the best four third-placed nations despite their players failing to score a single goal in three group matches, although an own goal brought victory over Equatorial Guinea.
A brave save from Sudan goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid on 29 minutes foiled Nicolas Jackson, but Senegal equalized almost immediately.
Former African player of the year Sadio Mane set up Gueye, who equalized with a low shot just inside the right post.
Senegal attacked continuously while Sudan had little to offer going forward in a match watched by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe from South Africa.
The Mauritanian referee pointed to the penalty spot after Abuzaid fouled Ismaila Sarr. However, the decision was reversed after a long VAR review revealed a Senegalese player was offside in the build-up.
Crystal Palace attacker Sarr then scored only to be ruled offside in another let-off for the Sudanese.
Abuzaid was constantly in action and did well to push away a Gueye shot with an outstretched right hand as half-time approached.
There was still time for Gueye to score again, however, and give Senegal a half-time lead in the Mediterranean city.
The Villarreal midfielder side-footed home a cross three minutes into added time.
Senegal introduced Mbaye midway through the second half as they sought the insurance of a third goal. He made an immediate impact, latching on to a long pass and beating Abuzaid at his near post.
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