Feliciano Lopez to replace Juan Martin del Potro at Kooyong Classic
Spanish tennis star Feliciano Lopez has been added to the 2019 Priceline Pharmacy Kooyong Classic player field.
2013 Kooyong runner-up Juan Martin del Potro withdrew from the exhibition tournament as he still isn't ready to make a comeback from a kneecap injury.
The Argentine was expected to open his 2019 campaign in Kooyong and then play the Australian Open a week later.
Unfortunately, the world No. 5 announced on Monday that he won't be playing at Melbourne Park this year.
Feliciano Lopez will replace injured Juan Martin del Potro at next week's @KooyongClassic
— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) January 1, 2019
Del Potro has played at the Kooyong event twice so far in his career.
In his first appearance at the popular Australian exhibition event, the Argentine was beaten in the semi-final in 2010.
Meanwhile, world No. 64 Lopez is set to make his third appearance at the Kooyong event.
Lopez, 37, debuted in Kooyong four years ago in 2015 and also played at the event a year later.
The 37-year-old will use the Kooyong event as his preparation for this year's Australian Open.
The former world No. 12 was expected to open his 2019 campaign at this week's Qatar ExxonMobil Open but withdrew from the tournament.
Lopez joins a strong 2019 Kooyong player field as Marin Cilic, Kevin Anderson, Jack Sock, Richard Gasquet and Bernard Tomic are expected to play at the Australian exhibition event.
The Kooyong Classic is due to take place from 08-10 January.
Also read: Ernests Gulbis hopes to stay healthy, targets big wins and top-50 return
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2H2VY95
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