Roger Federer to make Brisbane return

Brisbane: Grand Slam record-holder Roger Federer will return to play next year`s Brisbane International as he warms up for a tilt at his fifth Australian Open title, organisers said Monday.

Tournament officials said the 17-time Grand Slam winner, who lost this year`s final to Lleyton Hewitt, would be the major drawcard at the Brisbane WTA/ATP event from January 4-11.

"The conditions are very similar to Melbourne so I think it`s an ideal preparation (for the Australian Open)," Federer, 33, said in a Tennis Australia statement.

"It`s an important tournament on my calendar, a tournament I`m very happy to go back to and I was very excited to go there for the first time this year.

"When I sign up for a tournament it`s because I`m going to try to win it and I want to enjoy the week there."

Federer won the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on January 19, in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010. 

After the warm-up tournament in Brisbane, he reached his 11th successive Australian Open semi-final this year before falling to Rafael Nadal.