Roger Federer will return to the Hopman Cup in Perth this summer as he prepares to defend his Australian Open title.
The tennis great played the country-based, mixed-teams event in the lead up to the first grand slam of the year in January when he claimed his fifth title at Melbourne Park.
He finished second in his group at this year's Hopman Cup with Swiss teammate Belinda Bencic, who he will again partner in Perth.
The 35-year-old Federer lauded the tournament as preparation for the Australian Open.
The 18-time grand slam winner claimed the Australian Open after missing the back-end of 2016 with a long-term knee injury.
"It was a great, relaxing start to the year, plus I played some really good tennis and I can't wait to play again in Perth," Federer said. "It was the perfect preparation because I was in a good mindset.
"I thought the mixed (doubles) was going to be a bit too much on my old body, but it wasn't.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't win the entire tournament so we'll come back this year and try to win it for the first time."
Last year, the Swiss team lost to eventual winners France in the group stage.
The appearance was Federer's first since teaming up with then-girlfriend and now wife Miroslava Vavrinec in 2002.
He won the Hopman Cup as a 19-year-old alongside Martina Hingis the previous year.
The Hopman Cup runs from December 30 to January 6.
AAP
