Asia-Pacific News

Djokovic hopes to turn his luck in Sydney

Jan 6, 2009, 9:08 GMT

Sydney - Only hours after a first-round upset in Brisbane on Tuesday, Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was set to head to Sydney to tune his tennis at the Medibank International.

The world number three was granted a late wildcard into the men's and women's event which starts on Sunday, one week prior to the Open.

The Serb crashed out 6-4, 6-4 to Ernests Gulbis in his opening match of the season in Brisbane but was saved by the free entry in Sydney.

It will be the Serb's first visit to the city. 'I'm very grateful to receive the wildcard to Sydney,' he said. 'It was disappointing to lose in Brisbane but I now have another chance for more high quality matches in Sydney.

'I've heard a lot about the tournament and I am looking forward to playing there.'

Djokovic will come in as top seed in the men's draw in a field which also includes 2008 Melbourne finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and sixth-ranked compatriot Gilles Simon, Argentine David Nalbandian and four-time Sydney champion Lleyton Hewitt.

The women's field boasts Serena Williams, Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Australians Casey Dellacqua and Sam Stosur.