It’s become a familiar story in tennis – big names trying to stay away from the game, only to find themselves drawn back in.

Venus Williams keeps making comebacks, and Ons Jabeur hasn’t completely closed the door on her career, even after stepping away from tennis for a while. On the men’s side, Nick Kyrgios has had his own stops and starts, battling through injuries but never staying away for long.

But Daniela Hantuchova has taken a different route. The four-time Grand Slam champion has stayed out of competition for much longer than most before deciding to return. Now she’s set to play again, this time at a tournament in Australia.

Daniela Hantuchova set for Kooyong Classic appearance

Daniela Hantuchova, who stepped away from the game in 2017, has been named as a guest participant for this year’s Kooyong Classic.

The former world number five reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2008 and had a standout career in mixed doubles. Between 2002 and 2005, she claimed four Grand Slam titles with four different partners.

This time around, she’ll be joined by Alexandra Eala, Donna Vekic, and Priscilla Hon at the event.

There’s no word yet on whether this is a one-off appearance or the start of something more regular.

The men’s field includes Alexander Zverev, Alexander Bublik, Nick Kyrgios, and Hubert Hurkacz.

What is the Kooyong Classic?

The Kooyong Classic is an annual exhibition event held in Melbourne, typically just before the Australian Open.

The event uses a unique format, with eight players competing in a round-robin style rather than a traditional knockout tournament.

Over the years, several top names have participated and won the event, including Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, and Andy Roddick.

In 2024, Richard Gasquet was crowned champion on the men’s side after overcoming Jason Kubler in straight sets. Belinda Bencic took the women’s title by defeating Andrea Petkovic.