Novak Djokovic will begin his Australian Open assault at the Adelaide International after the 21-time major champion was confirmed as part of a quality field to compete from 1 January.
The Serb, detained and then deported by authorities ahead of the Australian Open earlier this year, will be allowed back into the country after being granted a visa by the Australian government.
But the world No 5 won’t play at the inaugural United Cup after Serbia failed to qualify for the teams event, instead starting his year at The Drive in Adelaide.
World No 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime, No 7 Daniil Medvedev, No 8 Andrey Rublev, No 15 Jannik Sinner and two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will also feature.
The combined WTA 500 and ATP 250 tournament will also welcome four of the world’s top 10 women – Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka, Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova.
Djokovic will then shoot for his 10th Australian Open title and record-equalling 22nd grand slam victory when action begins at Melbourne Park on 16 January.
But they’ll have to get through Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish 19-year-old finishing the year as the youngest ever world No 1.