For the first time in 16 years, Novak Djokovic will use the Brisbane International as his warm-up tournament for next month’s Australian Open.

Queensland’s showpiece tournament announced on Wednesday that the 24-time grand slam champion would play the Brisbane International for the first time since 2009.

“NOVAK DJOKOVIC,” the tournament’s social media account wrote.

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“Hitting #BrisbaneTennis this summer.”

It will also be the first time he has played in any Brisbane event since the ATP Cup in 2020, which was held across three Australian cities.

Djokovic joins Nick Kyrgios, Holger Rune and Francis Tiafoe as the marquee players in the Brisbane International’s 2025 draw, which kicks off on December 29 and runs until January 5.

Last time he played in the tournament, Djokovic was upset by Ernests Gulbis in the first round.

The 37-year-old shared the video announcing his inclusion on Instagram on Wednesday.

Brisbane will also be the former world No.1’s first tournament since pulling out of November’s ATP Finals with an unspecified injury.

Recharged and recovered, Djokovic will get to these Australian shores under the tutelage of longtime rival Andy Murray — his new coach — for the first time since their shock union.

Murray, Britain’s greatest ever player, retired after this summer’s Olympics at the age of 37, finally admitting defeat in his battle against injury.

It had been suggested Murray would one day return to tennis and become a coach, particularly due to his love of the sport, hard work and his tactical acumen.

However, the unexpected announcement that he was to team up with Djokovic through to January’s Open in Melbourne caused quite a stir.

Djokovic — beaten by Murray in the 2012 US Open final and again at Wimbledon the following year — admitted it was something even he could not have envisaged.

“I was going through a process of thinking about next season in the last couple of months,” Djokovic said to Sky Sports at the Qatar Grand Prix.

“I was trying to figure out what I need at this stage of my career, because I stopped with my (former) coach Goran Ivanisevic, who I was very successful with and worked for many years, in March.

“So I took about six months to really think about if I need a coach and, if yes, who that’s going to be and the profile of the coach.

“We were going through names and I realised that the perfect coach for me at this point would be someone who has been through the experiences I am going through, possibly a multiple Grand Slam winner, a former (world) No.1

“I was thinking about different people and a discussion about Andy Murray appeared on the table with me and my team.

“We were like, ‘OK, I’m going to give him a call and see how it goes’. It caught him a little off guard as well because he wasn’t expecting it.

“We connected really fast and he accepted it after a few days. I can’t be more excited about it.”

Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals as well as the French Open final in 2016.

“This collaboration is a surprise to me as well, to everyone, but it is exciting for tennis,” Djokovic added.

“He has been one of my greatest rivals. We are the same age, have played in all the biggest stadiums in our sport, so I cant wait to get out on the court and prepare for next season.”

– With AAP