Blake brings class to Brissy event

CROWD-pleasing American James Blake is the latest addition to the field for January’s Brisbane Tennis International.

The 29-year-old New Yorker has been added to the men’s draw, headlined by world No.6 Andy Roddick.

The women’s draw has attracted a strong field with Belgium’s former world No.1 Justine Henin on the comeback trail, two-time US Open champion Kim Clijsters and Australia’s Jelena Dokic.

Dokic has been in good form, winning 14 of her past 15 matches, including two of three recent finals in the ITF tour to take her world ranking to No.57.

The fields were confirmed in Brisbane yesterday with Henin accepting a wildcard to play her first event after retiring in May, 2008.

Frenchman Gilles Simon, however, was missing from the entries although tournament director Steve Ayles said he was holding a wildcard for the world No.15 who is battling a knee injury.

“Gilles suffered a pretty significant knee injury recently so he has decided not enter for Brisbane,” Ayles said.

“But if his knee recovers, he may well request a wildcard so he may still play the event.”