Australia’s top-ranked male player Bernard Tomic and reigning Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic have been confirmed for the Hopman Cup in Perth starting in December.

Tomic’s female partner wasn’t named on Tuesday for the December 29 to January 5 event, which is one of the lead-up tournaments to the first grand slam of the year – the Australian Open.

But Serbia’s team was the first to be confirmed, with world No.2 Djokovic returning for the third time in the past five years to partner world No.12 Ana Ivanovic.

Djokovic said the tournament would provide a great preparation for the Australian Open in Melbourne starting in mid-January.

“I love the atmosphere – you have lots of great players taking part in the tournament,” he said.

“I’ve reached the finals on two previous occasions so I sincerely hope that now this time, with Ana, we can actually win a trophy.”

Representing Australia at last year’s edition, Lleyton Hewitt teamed with Jarmila Gajdosova, who was reduced to tears when she lost 6-0 6-0 to Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli.

The Czech Republic are the defending champions after Petra Kvitova and Tomas Berdych downed France’s Richard Gasquet and Bartoli in the final.