The annual exhibition event will celebrate its fourth edition in 2018. Unlike traditional tennis, the format is quicker to speed up the game. Similar to the concept of Twenty20 in cricket. There are four games per set with a tiebreaker occurring at 3-3, there are no advantageous scores and lets are played.
Joining Dimitrov and Zverev in the 2018 edition will be work no.21 Nick Kyrgios. Kyrgios has previously participated in the exhibition, defeating Rafael Nadal earlier this year. For the first time, the showdown will be held at Ken Rosewall Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park. An arena that has a capacity of over 10,000 seats.
“Playing the FAST4 Showdown was a lot of fun in Sydney and I’m looking forward to playing again and this time at Ken Rosewall Arena,” Kyrgios said.
Looking ahead to the event, Kyrgios is relishing playing his rivals, who has both enjoyed success during 2017. World No.5 Zverev has won five ATP titles this season on three different surfaces. Meanwhile, Dimitrov defeated Kyrgios at the Cincinnati Open in August to win his first Masters 1000 title. More recently, the Bulgarian won the biggest title of his career after defeating David Goffin at the end-of-season ATP Finals in London.
“The level of play was really high and I’m expecting it to go to an even higher level with guys like Dimitrov and Zverev competing.” Kyrgios said about the 2018 field.
“I’ve known Sascha Zverev for a long time, we played juniors together. He’s played great tennis this year and done all the right things, he’s a total professional.
“It’s been great to see Grigor get back to his top form and finish the year at No.3 in the world. He really helped me a couple of months ago and to see him have such a successful end to the year – it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy.”
Fast4 tennis was introduced by Tennis Australia with the aim of creating a quicker version of the sport. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Tennis Austria describes the format as one that is ‘designed with the time-crunched player in mind, the FAST4 format means that anyone, anywhere has time for tennis.’ It made its global debut in 2015 when Roger Federer took on Lleyton Hewitt.
Lawrence Robertson, who is the tournament director of the Sydney International, has welcomed the relocation of the event in 2018. The Sydney International is a joint-tournament classed as an ATP 250 event for the men and as a Premier for the women.
“I’m really excited that we’re going to have the FAST4 Showdown as part of our overall offering in what is going to be a fantastic week of tennis in January,”Robertson said.
The 2018 Fast4 Showdown will take place on Monday 8 January 2018 during the Sydney International.
