Sydney NSW, Australia, 24 November 2016 | apiainternational.com.au

Four time Sydney champion Lleyton Hewitt and former world No.8 Mark Philippoussis will battle it out in a Legends showcase ahead of the men’s singles final on Saturday 14 January at Apia International Sydney 2017.

Hewitt, the youngest ever world No.1 and a two-time major champion, will return to Ken Rosewall Arena as a player for the first time since 2012.

It is a court the 35-year-old has enjoyed a lot of success on, winning Sydney International titles in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005 and more recently guiding the Australian Davis Cup team into the 2017 World Group with their victory over Slovakia in September.

“Sydney has always been a special place for me,” Hewitt said.

“To be able to win those four titles at home, in a major city, leading into the Australian Open was an incredible experience.

“To get my first Davis Cup tie win this year as captain as well was made all the more special being at Ken Rosewall Arena. It’s an arena and a court that I’ve had great success on so I can’t wait to get back out there and play.

“Mark and I have played a lot together over the years and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Hewitt and Philippoussis faced off on four occasions during their professional careers, with the Melbournian winning their first match-up in Miami in 1999.

A three set thriller at London’s Queen’s Club later that year turned the tides for Hewitt, who went on to win their remaining two meetings in 2000 and 2003. The pair were both part of Australia’s 1999 and 2003 Davis Cup winning teams.

Philippoussis, who reached major singles finals at the 1998 US Open and at Wimbledon in 2003, said he was looking forward to returning to the Apia International Sydney after competing in the Legends event in 2016 against Goran Ivanisevic (CRO).

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Sydney. The Legends tour is a lot of fun but I know I’m going to have my work cut out for me with Lleyton,” Philippoussis said.

“We played some great matches during our careers and he’s an incredibly tough competitor. The Sydney crowd was fantastic this year though and it’s a great atmosphere at Ken Rosewall Arena, I’m sure it will be an exciting match.”

Hewitt and Philippoussis will play a FAST4 Tennis match on Ken Rosewall Arena after the men’s doubles final and before the men’s singles final.

Apia International Sydney 2017, proudly supported by Apia in association with Peugeot and the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, will take place at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre from 8-14 January 2017.

The Apia International Sydney is part of the Emirates Australian Open Series which also includes Mastercard Hopman Cup (Perth), Brisbane International, Hobart International and the World Tennis Challenge (Adelaide).

Apia International Sydney single session tickets and series packages are now available. Tickets can be purchased online via Ticketek or by calling 1300 888 104.

For further tournament information please visit www.apiainternational.com.au.