Prior to almost every Grand Slam tournament in the calendar, there is a popular exhibition tournament held, giving players a chance to warm up before the major, as those are the most important tournaments in tennis.
This is particularly truthful for the Australian Open and Wimbledon, as there is often not enough time for players to prepare for those two. While there are not many grass-court tournaments held to give players time to prepare for Wimbledon, the Australian Open is the season's first Grand Slam, held only a few weeks after the season starts.
The Kooyong Classic is the perfect exhibition, as it's held directly in Melbourne, a city where the Australian Open is played. The tournament is held at the Kooyong Stadium, and it was first held in 1988. It is an invitational tournament for ATP and WTA players.
Since the tournament offers preparation for the Grand Slam, even if players make a decision to withdraw or retire from some of their matches, they are usually allowed to participate again.
Colin Stubs was the tournament's first director, and over the years, it was also called the Colonial Mutual Classic, Colonial Classic, and AAMI Classic. The first-ever tournament in 1988 was won by Pat Cash, who bested Wally Masur in the final.
The legends of the game, such as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Andy Roddick, have won the tournament over the years. In 1993, the first women's tournament was held, with Rachel McQuillan winning the event.
