Andy Roddick defends his title as the Brisbane International kicks off on Sunday.
Roddick claimed his first ATP title down under last year, toughing out a couple of tiebreaks against Radek Stepanek in the final. It was a bright start to what ultimately proved a frustrating year for Roddick and the American has been working like a demon in the off season, putting himself through gruelling rounds of fitness drills as he bids to reclaim his place in the top five.
However Roddick will face some tough competition in Brisbane. World number five Robin Soderling leads the field though the Swede has never performed well in Australia in the past and made a poor start to 2010.
Fernando Verdasco has excelled in Australia in the past as a former semi-finalist in Melbourne but much will depend on whether the Spaniard has rediscovered his mojo over the off season. Verdasco burnt himself out during the clay-court season and was never the same player since, struggling to win back-to-back matches in the second half of the year.
Marcos Baghdatis suffered humiliation at the hands of Tomas Berdych in Brisbane last year, managing just one game in their second round encounter. However the Cypriot went on to have a superb year, finishing in the top twenty and after a punishing off season regime, he begins 2011 leaner and stronger than ever before.
2009 champion Stepanek is also in the field along with big serving American Mardy Fish.
