Swiss tennis ace Stanislas Wawrinka to use Brisbane International as warm up to 2017 Australian Open

The Brisbane International tournament shall be used by Swiss tennis ace Stanislas Wawrinka as his warm-up event to the season opening Australian Open Grand Slam in January, tournament organisers said on Monday. 

The US Open champion will join a star studded field comprising of 14-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal and women's world No.1 Angelique Kerber at the year-opening tournament. Wawrinka shall go into Brisbane tournament after beating World No. 1 Novak Djokovic for his third Grand Slam title in New York and reaching his highest-ever ranking behind the Serb and Briton Andy Murray. 

"I'm excited to be heading to the Brisbane International for the first time in my career," Wawrinka said in a statement. "I've heard such great things about the event and it feels like the right time to change up the start of my season." Wawrinka will be chasing his second Australian Open crown after beating Nadal in the 2014 Melbourne final.

Apart from Kerber, the Brisbane International, from January 1-8, will also feature French Open champion Garbine Muguruza of Spain in the women's draw.