Ljubicic brought in for resting Federer at Kooyong

Melbourne: Croatian journeyman Ivan Ljubicic has taken the final spot at this week’s Kooyong Classic after champion Roger Federer declined to play his traditional warm-up event for the Australian Open.

The 30-year-old Ljubicic, a nine-time ATP tour champion, completes a strong eight-man field at the Melbourne invitational, boasting world number three Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Argentina’s US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro.“Again, I’m full of hopes, full of expectations, feeling good and I’m really looking forward to the new season,” Ljubicic, who captured his first title in two years at Lyon in November, told reporters. Swede Robin Soderling, Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez and experienced German Tommy Haas will also line up at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, where players are guaranteed three matches on the same surface used at Melbourne Park. British world number five Andy Murray, craving a last competitive hit-out before his tilt for a maiden grand slam next week, will also play an exhibition match at the tournament Thursday with an opponent yet to be named, organisers said. Bureau Report