Sweden, led by 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson, will replace Belarus in this year's Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis tournament in Perth, organisers announced on Wednesday.
Johansson, currently ranked 15 in the world, will team up with 21-year-old Sofia Arvidsson for the tournament after Belarus was forced to pull out due to a schedule change for giant Max Mirnyi, Hopman director Paul McNamee said.
"Johansson's inclusion means the field now boasts four Grand Slam singles title holders with reigning Australian Open winner Marat Safin, Gaston Gaudio (Roland Garros 2004) and Svetlana Kuznetsova (US Open 2004)", he said.
McNamee said Sweden would slot into Belarus's position in the draw, opening their campaign against newcomers Serbia and Montenegro and then playing top-seeded Russia - setting up a replay of the 2002 Australian Open final between Johansson and Safin.
The tournament opens at Perths Burswood Entertainment complex on December 31.
The eight-day event sees men and women from each team play singles rubbers before pairing to play their opponents in mixed doubles.
Other teams playing this year are Argentina, seeded second, Australia, the United States, Germany and Serbia and Montenegro.
The eighth team in the main draw of the event will be determined by a play-off between China and the Netherlands.
The teams were drawn into two groups last week with Russian, the United States, Belarus and Serbia and Montenegro in Group A and Argentina, Australia, Germany and China or the Netherlands in Group B.
The two top teams from each group will play off in a finals series.