MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis has replaced an ill Roger Federer in the draw at the Kooyong Classic, organizers said on Tuesday.
Federer withdrew from the eight-man invitational event on Monday with a stomach virus, though he said he expected to resume training later this week as he finalized preparations for next week's Australian Open, the season's opening grand slam.
Baghdatis lost in four sets to Federer in the 2006 Australian Open final and despite losing in the first round of the Chennai Open last week, he said making the final of the doubles with France's Marc Gicquel had at least given him some match practice.
"I didn't play too well in Chennai last week though I played good in the doubles," Baghdatis told a news conference. "I had some matches okay," he added, laughing.
"No, I'm feeling really good and I'm looking forward to playing some matches with the guys and having some fun and getting ready for the Open."
The tournament, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2008, guarantees players three matches against a field stacked with top-10 players before the Australian Open.
"The big thing here is that you want to get through matches here against this type of field," said 2007 champion Andy Roddick. "That's great preparation for next week and that's what the main thing is."
World number four Nikolay Davydenko, who has replaced Tommy Haas in the tournament, will meet Baghdatis in Wednesday's first match and be followed by Roddick against Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic.
"We have played a few times and know each other pretty well. I think there will be a lot of long rallies, kick serves and staying back five meters behind the baseline," Ljubicic said when asked about the style of match between the two.
"No, of course it will be a powerful game," the world number 19 added with a smile in reference to Roddick's booming serve.
"I hope I can play well this week and when we get to Melbourne Park I will be in peak form."
Chile's Fernando Gonzalez meets Argentine David Nalbandian and Britain's Andy Murray plays Russian Marat Safin in Wednesday's other matches.
(Editing by Martin Petty)
