Kooyong VIC 3144, Australia, 13 January 2015 | AAP

Rain has prevented any play on the opening day of the Kooyong Tennis Classic in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The first match between Frenchman Gilles Simon and Spain’s Fernando Verdasco was due to get underway at 10am but organisers delayed the start hoping for a break in the weather.

With the rain continuing they called off play for the day.

World No.5 Japan’s Kei Nishikori is the headline act in the eight-man field at Kooyong.

He is set to play Australian youngster Jordan Thompson in his first match.