Eight French players in Brisbane ATP draw

Eight Frenchmen, spearheaded by world number 13 Gael Monfils, dominate the men's draw for the Brisbane International in January, organisers said on Thursday.

Eight Frenchmen, spearheaded by world number 13 Gael Monfils (pictured on November 14), dominate the men's draw for the Brisbane International in January, according to organisers.

Apart from Monfils, compatriots Jeremy Chardy (32), Paul-Henri Mathieu (33), Richard Gasquet (52), Marc Gicquel (58), Arnaud Clement (64), Florent Serra (66) and Michael Llodra (69) were named in the main men's draw.

American Andy Roddick, ranked sixth, heads the ATP tournament along with Czech Radek Stepanek (12) and Monfils.

Tournament officials said the January 3-10 Brisbane International had attracted four Grand Slam winners, five former number ones and an additional 10 former top 10 players.

This year's US Open champion Kim Clijsters, last year's French Open winner Ana Ivanovic and seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin on a wildcard will be the major attractions in the women's event.

They will be joined by world number two Dinara Safina and fellow Russian Nadia Petrova.