Perth, 18 August 2011 | tennis.com.au

Lleyton Hewitt will team up with Jarmila Gajdosova to represent Australia at the 2012 Hopman Cup, it was announced today.

Organisers also unveiled the signing of reigning French Open women’s singles champion China’s Li Na to contest the exhibition event, starting in Perth on 31 December 2011.

Li Na – who added this year’s Australian Open runner-up trophy to her silverware – will partner compatriot Wu Di, the 19-year-old who had a notable five-set singles victory against Australia at this year’s Davis Cup second round.

“I’m happy to be playing Hopman Cup for the first time,” said Li Na who has become a regional superstar when she made history by becoming the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

“I’ve heard many good things about the tournament and the city.”

“I hope we can do well, and in the remainder of the Australian season,” she said.

It will be Lleyton Hewitt’s sixth appearance at the Hyundai Hopman Cup.

“I’m really excited to be heading back to Perth for the Hopman Cup in January,” said Hewitt. “I’m looking forward to being 100 per cent fit, and for me the Hopman Cup is a great start to the year.”

“I love playing for my country and it will be good to team up with Jarmila and have a crack at the title.”

“I’m planning on playing good tennis. The fans are such great supporters of mine and I love playing in front of them,” Hewitt said.

Gajdosova has this year reached her highest singles ranking to date, and career highlights include round-of-16 appearances at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2010 and a 2011 title in Hobart.

Her teammate Hewitt, despite having an injury-riddled year, remains focused and optimistic.

“It’s obviously frustrating when you have injuries and then need to come back,” Hewitt said.

“But I’m feeling good and looking forward to the next few weeks in the US, then there’s Davis Cup which I love,” Hewitt said.

“Beyond that, I’m feeling really positive about next year and looking forward of course to the Aussie summer.”

The Hopman Cup previously announced the dynamic Czech duo featuring top tenners Kvitova (currently ranked 6) and Tomas Berdych (currently ranked 9).