Recently-crowned US Open champion Serena Williams is heading to Queensland this summer to defend the Brisbane International.
Tournament organisers on Wednesday confirmed world No.1 Williams and veteran Lleyton Hewitt had signed on for the Australian Open warm-up event starting on December 29.
The 17-time grand slam champion Williams won her first Brisbane crown earlier this year, defeating Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the final.
“I remember I was really excited to win,” Williams said in a statement.
“I was so focused on the final and felt like this was a good start for the Australian Open.
“It’s always a good preparation to play in Brisbane, and it’s always fun to go back and try and defend your title.”
Former world No.1 Hewitt will join another big name in Roger Federer when he makes his second appearance at the Brisbane tournament.
“It’s going to be another tough tournament; they always have extremely strong fields,” Hewitt said.
“Roger Federer is going there for the first time as well, so that’s going to be pretty exciting for the Brisbane International.”