Former Australian Open finalist and crowd favourite Marcos Baghdatis has today confirmed he will play in January’s Medibank International Sydney.

The Cypriot, currently ranked No. 45 on the ATP World Tour, is another exciting addition to the event’s already strong line-up that includes Serena Williams, Lleyton Hewitt, Gael Monfils, Samantha Stosur and Caroline Wozniacki.

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“I am very pleased to be competing again in the Medibank International Sydney. It is a wonderful city and one of my favourite places to visit,” Baghdatis said.

“I hope to do well in Sydney. The crowd was great and supported me when I played there a few years ago and I am looking forward to returning.”

Baghdatis previously played at the Medibank International Sydney in 2007, when he went down to Spain’s Carlos Moya in the quarter-finals.

Medibank International Sydney Tournament Director Craig Watson said Marcos Baghdatis was a welcome and exciting addition to the men’s field.

“Marcos is one of the most enigmatic and entertaining players on the ATP World Tour and we can’t wait for him to return to the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre next January,” Watson said.

“He has had a tough couple of years with injuries but is definitely on his way back to the form he displayed at the Australian Open in 2006. I know all the sports fans in Sydney will be thrilled to see him back at the event.”

The 24-year-old Baghdatis had his breakout year on the ATP World Tour in 2006, when he reached the final of the Australian Open, defeating three top ten players in Andy Roddick, Ivan Ljubicic and David Nalbandian.

Baghdatis also reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, won his first ATP World Tour title in Beijing and finished that year with a ranking of No. 12.

The 2007 season saw Baghdatis finish the year inside the world’s top 20 and win his second career title in Zagreb.

Despite struggling with injuries in 2008, the Cypriot still reached the third round of the Australian Open and fourth round of Wimbledon in 2008.

In 2009 Baghdatis had an impressive start to the year, reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open. In October he captured his third career title in Stockholm, defeating former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero en route.

He also won Challenger events this year in Vancouver, St Remy and Tashkent.

Baghdatis joins Hewitt, Monfils, Tomas Berdych and Stanislas Wawrinka in the men’s field at Medibank International Sydney 2010.

Tickets to the Medibank International Sydney 2010 are on sale now through Ticketek and can be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104.

The Medibank International Sydney will be held at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre from Sunday 10 January to Saturday 16 January 2010.