Agassi to play in Australian Open warm-up

Andre Agassi will complete preparations for the defence of his Australian Open title by playing in the Commonwealth Bank International in Melbourne, organisers said on Thursday.

Agassi heads the eight-man field for the January 9 to 12 round-robin invitational event, which he won this year.

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, the U.S. Open champion, is undecided about entering the tournament, which clashes with the Adidas International in Sydney where he won this year.

The Australian Open runs from January 14 to 27.

The Commonwealth Bank International, formerly known as the Kooyong Colonial Classic, will also feature Russian Olympic champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov, German Tommy Haas, French Open runner-up Alex Corretja of Spain and Sweden's Thomas Enqvist.

"We see ourselves as a niche event providing valuable support to the Australian Open," tournament director Colin Stubs said, adding that former world number one Pete Sampras had also been invited to play.

"Our focus is on Lleyton (Hewitt) at the moment but we're not that hopeful," Stubs said. "At the end of the day, there are plenty of Aussies out there that I can call up."

Patrick Rafter is unavailable, while Stubs said last year that Mark Philippoussis would not be invited to the tournament again after he withdrew from the 2000 final against Agassi because of a neck injury, but was fit enough to play in the Australian Open two days later.

Stubs said he would be patient with Hewitt considering his heavy commitments, including next month's Masters Cup in Sydney and the Davis Cup final against France from November 30 to December 2.

Each player in the eight-man field at Kooyong in Melbourne will play three matches over four days from January 9 to 12.