体坛英语新闻：Wozniacki to start 2012 tennis season in Sydney

COPENHAGEN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 women's tennis player Caroline Wozniacki starts her 2012 tennis season at the Sydney International in Australia for the fourth consecutive year, according to Danish Media.

Danish Wozniacki said the 637,000 US dollar outdoor hardcourt tournament, part of the WTA circuit, would help her prepare for the Australian Open in Melbourne, next year's first grand slam.

"The Sydney International is the ideal preparation for the first Grand Slam of the year," Wozniacki said Thursday.

"The matches there are always so tough because so many of the top players compete there so I know I will get the match practice I need before Melbourne," she added, in comments carried on the Sydney tournament's website.

The Sydney International also features Chinese Li Na, who won the event's 2011 edition and the French Open, as well as US Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia.

Wozniacki's best result in the Sydney International came in the quarterfinals in 2009, when she lost to American Serena Williams.

Wozniacki, 21, finishes 2011 ranked world No. 1 for the second year running, but is yet to win a Grand Slam title in her career.

She told Danish media Wednesday that she will put all her efforts into winning a Grand Slam title and an Olympic Games medal, in 2012.

She will play doubles in the Hopman Cup prior to the Sydney International, which runs Jan. 8 to 14.