Roger Federer to play in Hopman Cup next year

Western Australia: Seventeen-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will play for Switzerland in the mixed-team Hopman Cup in Perth early next year, organisers said on Thursday.

The world No.3 will partner 16th-ranked Belinda Bencic in his first appearance in 15 years at an event that serves as a warm-up for the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Federer, 34, teamed with Martina Hingis to win the Hopman Cup in 2001 and also played the following year with his now wife Miroslava Vavrinec, better known as Mirka Federer.

"I think it will be a perfect tournament for me to start the season," said Federer, who has used the Brisbane International in recent years as his main lead-up to the Australian Open.

"I thought on TV it looked great, the atmosphere seemed really nice, the stadium looked fantastic so I`m looking forward to playing in that environment."

The Hopman Cup, which was won this year by Australians Nick Kyrgios and Daria Gavrilova, takes place at Perth Arena from January 1 to 7.