The strongest field in the Australian Open 103-year history was revealed on Wednesday, with every one of the world's top 100 men taking part and 99 of the top 100 women competing in January's tournament.
Three-time champion Roger Federer heads the men's draw, while world No.1 and the 2004 winner Justine Henin leads the women.
The only omission from the top 100 women is Russia's world No.44 Vera Dushevina, who is out with a right-foot injury.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said he was thrilled with the line-up.
"It's fantastic news to know that all of the world's best tennis players are coming to Melbourne in January for the Australian Open," said Federer.
"The field is sprinkled with genuine superstars, rising stars and Australians, which will no doubt lead to some brilliant tennis."
"At this stage, it's the strongest field in the event's history and we're sure this will equate to one of the most exciting tournaments yet."
The men's field will be completed by 16 qualifiers and eight wildcards, while the women's field has 12 qualifiers and eight wildcards.
The women's draw includes five former champions in Henin, Venus and Serena Williams, Amelie Mauresmo and Lindsay Davenport.
Source: TOI
FORMER US Open champion Andy Roddick has hailed the United States’ first Davis Cup victory in 12 years as one of the greatest moments of his career.
The triumph ended the country’s longest drought since the tournament began in 1900 and stretched the United States’ winning streak to six in Davis Cup finals on home soil since 1973.
"It’s been a long road. To be here and bring the cup back to the States is an amazing feeling," said Roddick.
"But more important, just to share the journey with these guys, it’s just been so much fun. We have been the ultimate team and it’s an honour to be a part of that."
World No 6 Roddick, who won his only grand slam title in 2003, and Blake had already beaten Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny in the singles on Friday before the Bryans, winners of five grand slam titles together, took their Davis Cup record to 14-1 with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 6-2 victory over Igor Andreev and Nikolay Davydenko.
"The Davis Cup probably doesn’t get as much recognition as it should," Roddick continued.
"It wasn’t really a seven, eight-year process to try to win the US Open, all of a sudden I was on tour and it happened before it knew it.
“But this has been a journey. Like Patrick said on court, we’ve been to some places. When you’re just with these guys we developed friendships. There’s so much that goes into this.
Source: icwales
