2012 AAMI Classic

Written by: Staff on 4th January 2012

Qatar ExxonMobil ATP Open Tennis tournament 2012

2012 AAMI Classic

Gael Monfils of France in action against Benjamin Becker of Germany during their tennis match in the third round at the Qatar ExxonMobil ATP Open Tennis tournament at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar, 04 January 2012. EPA/STRINGER |

World no. 4, ANDY MURRAY (GB), short of match practice, will make a special appearance at the AAMI Classic at Kooyong next week.

The 2011 Australian Open finalist will line up against Argentinian DAVID NALBANDIAN (ranked 64) on Friday afternoon, Jan. 13.

Murray is playing the Brisbane International this week.While Darren Cahill has assisted him in recent times through Team adidas, he has just announced Ivan Lendl as his new coach, mainly at Grand Slams and a few other selected tournaments.

His manager told Tournament Director, Colin Stubs, that Andy is looking forward to the match against the 30 year old Nalbandian, who is hoping for a good start to the year after two leg surgeries last March.

Nalbandian, whose highest ranking is 3, has played at Kooyong on four previous occasions.

The completed AAMI Classic field is:

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA (FRA – 6) TOMAS BERDYCH (CZE – 7)

MARDY FISH (USA – 8) ANDY RODDICK (USA – 14)

GAEL MONFILS (FRA – 16) MILOS RAONIC (CAN – 31)

JURGEN MELZER (AUT – 33) BERNARD TOMIC (AUS – 42)

Play in the 8 man invitational gets under way next Wednesday, January 11, at 11.00 am.

The annual players’ media conference will be held on Tuesday, January 10, at The Edge Theatre in Federation Square at 11.30 am. The eight players will then make a public appearance on the Fed Square stage at 12.15 pm.