Mardy Fish and Milos Raonic Take Last Two Spots

Written by: Staff on 14th December 2011

Mardy Fish and Milos Raonic Take Last Two Spots

Canada's Milos Raonic returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their quarter final match at the ATP Stockholm Open tennis tournament in Stockholm, Sweden, 21 October 2011. Raonic won 7-5 and 6-4. EPA/FREDRIK SANDBERG SWEDEN OUT |

(Courtesy of AAMI Classic Kooyong)

World no. 8, American MARDY FISH, and ATP Newcomer of the Year, Canadian MILOS RAONIC (ranked 31) are the last two players confirmed for the 2012 AAMI Classic at Kooyong (Jan. 11-14).

It will be Fish’s first official appearance at Kooyong. The 29 year old from Minnesota, (now residing in Los Angeles) achieved his highest ranking of 7 in August. A major knee injury in 2009 caused him to re-assess his tennis and fitness levels. As a result, he lost over 13 kilos and worked hard to resurrect his career, influenced by his wife, actress Stacey Gardner. It’s been said he added substance to style and the results have been commanding. His major achievements throughout the year are as follows:

W: Atlanta

F: Montreal Masters, Los Angeles

S: Tokyo, Cincinnati Masters, Miami Masters, Delray Beach, Memphis

Q: Houston, Wimbledon.

MILOS RAONIC (pronounced MIL-osh Rau-nitch) is one of the most exciting young players on the ATP World Tour at present. At 20 years of age and 6’5”tall, he has a 2011 match record of 31-19. His ranking has rocketed as fast as his booming serve (average 225 kph) from 156 at the start of the year to 31. He won his first ATP event in San Jose, was a finalist in Memphis, semi-finalist in Stockholm and Estoril and quarter-finalist in Halle.

Fish joins compatriot and good friend, ANDY RODDICK (14), who is making a welcome return to Kooyong after a four year absence. Top ranked Australian BERNARD TOMIC, who has crept up to 42 in the world, will play in the official format for the first time and JO-WILFRIED TSONGA (6), TOMAS BERDYCH (7), GAEL MONFILS (16) and JURGEN MELZER (33) complete the high-profile field.

Tournament Director, Colin Stubs, said today “We are delighted that Mardy, following his best year on the circuit, has decided to prepare for the Australian Open at the AAMI Classic. I am looking forward to watching ‘up close’ two of the world’s most exciting tennis prospects in Milos Raonic and Bernard Tomic take on the more highly-ranked Roddick, Tsonga, Berdych and Monfils”.

Play gets under way in the “promotion/relegation” event on Wednesday, January 11, at 11.00 am. Four matches will be played on Wednesday, three each on Thursday and Friday and the finals Saturday starting at 1.00 pm

Topics: Mardy Fish, milos raonic