Thanasi Kokkinakis will use the Canberra International to launch his summer and strengthen his bid to qualify for the Australian Open next month.
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The Canberra Times can reveal Kokkinakis and local product Alison Bai will compete in the revamped Canberra International in January, in what is expected to be the strongest tennis event to have taken place in the capital.
The men's competition has been elevated to the highest level ATP Challenger event with the winner earning over $160,000 US and 125 ranking points.
World No.200 Kokkinakis is eyeing the chance to qualify for the Australian Open after skipping the wildcard play-off event in Melbourne this week.
He'll need either a wildcard from Tennis Australia or have to earn his spot through qualifying in order to play at the Australian Open.
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
"I'm really looking forward to starting my year off in Canberra," Kokkinakis said.
"I haven't been to Canberra since I attended a training camp there as a junior and I've heard great things about the facilities at the Canberra Tennis Centre.
"For me the main goal heading into the Australian summer is to stay healthy and get some quality matches under my belt. I've put in the hard work the past few months and I'm feeling great and ready to get back out on the court.
"I'm anticipating the field is going to be very strong in Canberra and it is a great chance for me to test myself against some of the best players in the world."
Kokkinakis hasn't played since reaching the final of a Challenger event in the United States in September and has been busy training for the Australian summer.
The South Australian has played only nine tournaments this year and reached the second round of the US Open, only to withdraw from his match against Rafael Nadal due to a pectoral injury.
The former top-70 player has been plagued a horror stretch of injuries, having undergone a shoulder surgery, suffered a cracked knee and abdominal strains.
Kokkinaki retired in the first round of the Australian Open last year due to injury after fighting his way through the wildcard play-offs to qualify.
Tennis ACT boss Kim Kachel says Kokkinakis is fit to challenge a contingent of the world's top 100 players when he arrives in the capital next month.
"He's one of the most exciting talents on the ATP tour and proven he's capable of beating the world's best," Kachel said.
"He knocked off Roger Federer in the Miami Open and has beaten Milos Raonic. He's had some injury troubles in the past but he's fit and raring to go for a great summer ahead.
"It's fantastic those in the ACT and the region will be able to come out and see the likes of Thanasi, who is a huge star of the sport, close and personal at the Canberra International."
Tennis ACT are expected to announce a number of confirmed players within the fortnight with entry deadline set to close next week.
The Canberra International will be held alongside the inaugural ATP Cup and the Qatar Open, giving players another opportunity to bolster their preparations for the Australian Open.
Kachel says the Challenger event has started to attract a strong host of international players looking to acclimatise to Australian conditions and gain qualifying points ahead of the Grand Slam.
"It's shaping up to be the strongest event Canberra has ever seen and we've had the likes of Alex De Minaur, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Denis Shapovalov and Andreas Seppi play here before," Kachel said.
"We're attracting a great group of players, a lot of whom are coming from different climates and want to get ready in Australia for the Open.
"It will significantly boost their ranking and ensure they kick start the year well. It's cemented itself now as one of the premier challenge events in the world and now sits alongside the Tour events, those ranking points are invaluable."
Tennis ACT has installed new lighting, resurfaced the nine outdoor and four indoor hard courts for the event, as well as constructed a 120-seat northern grandstand on the main court.
TENNIS IN CANBERRA
Canberra International: January 6-12 at Lyneham Tennis Centre
Tickets on sale at tennis.com.au/act/tickets