13 November 2012 | Tennis Victoria

Codey Gunn and Gemma Seeley from the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club were today privileged to have a hit on Centre Court under the watchful eye of former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt following the announcement of three additional stars for the upcoming AAMI Classic.

Janko Tipsarevic, Juan Monaco and Milos Raonic have been added to the already illustrious draw to contend the AAMI Classic at Kooyong in January 2013.

Tipsarevic, currently ranked No.9 in the world has had a strong 2012.  He won Dusseldorf and Stuttgart, was a finalist in Chennai and Gstaad, semi-finalist in Marseille, Madrid Masters, Canadian Masters, Bangkok and Vienna and quarter-finalist in Dubai, Miami Masters, Barcelona, Us Open and Tokyo.

Monaco, like Tipsarevic, is making his debut at the Classic in 2013.  He has been in the winner’s circle this year taking out events in Chile, Houston, Hamburg and Kuala Lumpur.  Hailing from Argentina and currently ranked No.12 in the world, Monaco will bring a hard work attitude to the AAMI Classic.

Ranked No.13 in the world, Raonic was named the 2011 ATP Newcomer of the Year and will be returning to Kooyong after making his first visit to Kooyong in 2012.  The big serving Canadian went on to win in San Jose and got to the finals in Memphis and Tokyo, semis in Barcelona and quarters in Halle, Canadian Masters, Cincinnati Masters and Bangkok.

Tipsarevic, Monaco and Raonic join previously named players in 2011 AAMI Classic Champion Lleyton Hewitt, along with 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro, Kei Niskikori and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.

Following the announcement up and coming Kooyong Lawn Tennis Players Codey Gunn and Gemma Seeley had the opportunity to have a hit on Centre Court under the watchful eye of Lleyton Hewitt.  Passing on some advice to the juniors Hewitt encouraged them to train hard and focus on their skills.

The AAMI Classic is held from 9 – 12 January 2013 at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.

Tickets for the AAMI Classic are available from Ticketmaster

For further details visit www.aamiclassic.com.au