Safina to play Brisbane International

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Russia's Dinara Safina will warm up for the Australian Open at January's Brisbane International, organisers said on Friday.

Safina, who will lose her number one ranking to Serena Williams after withdrawing from this week's WTA Championships, will join Serbia's Ana Ivanovic and former world number one Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin at the Jan. 3-10 event.

"The Brisbane International will be the perfect tournament to get some tough match practice in the lead up to the Australian Open," the 23-year-old Safina said in a statement.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)