Tennis: Graf returns for Australia

Steffi Graf, the former world No 1, confirmed yesterday she will use next month's Australian Open as the platform to relaunch her faltering career.

Graf, winner of the event four times, missed the second half of this year with a knee injury, and her ranking has slid to 28.

Graf will join the defending champion, Martina Hingis, the four-times winner Monica Seles and the American Venus Williams, the US Open finalist, at Melbourne Park from 19 January.

All the men's top 10 will appear, with defending champion and world No 1, Pete Sampras, and Australia's US Open winner, Pat Rafter, at the head of the list.