SYDNEY, Dec 2: World number three Novak Djokovic will warm up for his Australian Open defence at the inaugural Brisbane International in January, the organisers said Tuesday.

Djokovic tops a star-studded line-up for the Jan 4-11 tournament, which replaces the women’s Gold Coast event and the men’s Adelaide International.

Beaten Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet are also in the men’s draw, while Serbian beauty Ana Ivanovic is the top women’s seed.

Other confirmed starters include Cypriot wildcard Marcos Baghdatis, Sweden’s Robin Soderling, Czech Tomas Berdych, Mardy Fish from the US and Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Ivanovic will face competition from 2006 Australian Open winner Amelie Mauresmo, China’s Li Na, Belarus teenager Victoria Azarenka and Marion Bartoli of France.—AFP