Sydney - Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will
team up with Japan's Kei Nishikori in a Fast4 exhibition in Sydney in January
against Australia's Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, organisers said on Wednesday.
The short-form format, now in its third year, features sets
won by the first player to four games, no deuces and play continuing after lets
on serve.
The event, on January 9, is billed as the Twenty20 of
tennis, a reference to the fast and furious form of cricket which has proved a
huge hit.
Nadal played the exhibition this year alongside Gael
Monfils, with Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt representing Australia.
"I have played the format twice now and I think it's very exciting for both players and fans," the Spaniard said.
"It's very easy for the crowd to get involved in the
match and it was a great atmosphere earlier this year."
Meanwhile, women's world number one Angelique Kerber announced she will play the Sydney International for the fifth year in a row from January 8-14 in her build-up the Australian Open.