Nadal set to make comeback at Kooyong Classic

World No 1 Rafael Nadal will make his return from injury at the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament to prepare for the Australian Open, which begins next Monday.

Nadal joins former world No 1 Novak Djokovic, a six-time Australian Open champion, in using the Kooyong event to warm up for the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.

Tournament director Peter Johnston yesterday said that negotiations with Nadal accelerated after the 16-time major winner withdrew from the Brisbane International.

“Rafa was looking for match play and of course we were more than happy to oblige,” Johnston said.

“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.”

Nadal, who lost last year’s Australian final to Roger Federer 0 Rafael Nadal: Will play event ahead of the Australian Open. and went on to win the French and US Open titles, has been struggling with a right knee problem and withdrew from the ATP tournament in Brisbane to give himself longer for recovery. The Spaniard is scheduled to play tomorrow at Kooyong, which regularly hosted the Australian Open on grass before the tournament moved to hard courts at Melbourne Park.

Djokovic is returning from a right elbow injury that has kept him off the tour since July. Last week he said he wasn’t sure he’d be able to play at the Australian Open, and wouldn’t confirm until after the two exhibition events. Forfarshire have been handed a huge boost after Scotland star Michael Leask agreed to return to the club.

The former Stoneywooddyce player, who had a season with the Broughty Ferry outfit in 2015, headed south two years ago for a stint in English county cricket with Somerset.

However, he was released at the end of last season and will bolster Forfarshire’s bid for Eastern Premier success.

A club spokesman said: “Michael played for Somerset in several T20 Blast games and gained extensive experience of the first-class game.

“He will greatly enhance the Forfarshire line-up in 2018.”

Meanwhile, Leask’s Scotland team-mate Craig Wallace has been named Forfarshire’s player-coach for the new season.

The pair will head to Dubai later this week for the national side’s Tri-series against UAE and Ireland.