The last-minute signing of Davis Cup hero Tomas Berdych completes the lineup for this week's AAMI Classic at Kooyong club, final elite tune-up prior to the start of the Australian Open in a week.
Officials at the former home of the Open had been holding a possible place for Rafael Nadal, but had that idea scuppered as the injured Spaniard delayed his comeback to tennis yet again, this time for a stomach virus after more than six months away with knee problems.
Berdych helped the Czechs to glory in November's Davis Cup final over Spain. The world No. 6 joins an eight-man field which also includes Juan Martin Del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, Milos Raonic, Janko Tipsarevoic, Juan Monaco, Kei Nishikori and Marcos Baghdatis.
Berdych lost in the Chennai quarter-finals and decided that he needed more matches heading into the major at Melbourne Park.
The Czech won 2012 titles in Montpelier and Stockholm and reached the finals at the Madrid Masters, Dusseldorf and Winston Salem.
Officials at the former home of the Open had been holding a possible place for Rafael Nadal, but had that idea scuppered as the injured Spaniard delayed his comeback to tennis yet again, this time for a stomach virus after more than six months away with knee problems.
Berdych helped the Czechs to glory in November's Davis Cup final over Spain. The world No. 6 joins an eight-man field which also includes Juan Martin Del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, Milos Raonic, Janko Tipsarevoic, Juan Monaco, Kei Nishikori and Marcos Baghdatis.
Berdych lost in the Chennai quarter-finals and decided that he needed more matches heading into the major at Melbourne Park.
The Czech won 2012 titles in Montpelier and Stockholm and reached the finals at the Madrid Masters, Dusseldorf and Winston Salem.