Melbourne  - Roger Federer has told officials at the AAMI Classic not to panic over reports that Middle Eastern money will swamp the traditional Australian Open tune-up events.

"I told him not to be concerned," said the Swiss number two, who has again perfected his game at the eight-man special event at Kooyong club, the former home of the Open until two decades ago.

Melbourne  - Italian number 109 Filippo Volandri will miss the Australian Open after being slapped with a ban for using an asthma medicine containing a proscribed stimulant to excess.

The sanction handed down by the International Tennis Federation means that a new name will be inserted into the draw for the Open starting on Monday to face Mario Ancic, Volandri's original first- round opponent.

Auckland - Argentine Juan Del Potro has a chance to begin a new winning streak after lifting four titles in 2008 when he plays the Saturday final at the Heineken Open.

The South American will face big-hitting American Sam Querry after defeating Swede Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-3

Querrey booked his place with an upset of second seed and 2007 winner David Ferrer of Spain 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Del Potro fired ten aces in his victory over Sodering as the world number nine advanced in his first event of the new season.

Sydney - Flying Finn Jarkko Nieminen stunned Novak Djokovic on the eve of the Australian Open, hammering the top seed out of the Medibank International warm-up event 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) on Friday.

The 40th-ranked Niemimen, who secured a walkover the day before when 2008 Melbourne finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew from their quarter-final with a back injury, will face Argentine David Nalbandian for the title on Saturday.

Sydney - New number one players Rafael Nadal and Jelena Jankovic line up as top seeds for the first time when the Australian Open begins on Monday.

Nadal, practising privately this week at Melbourne as is Jankovic, opens against Belgian Christophe Rochus as the Spaniard tops a Grand Slam draw for the second time since dethroning Roger Federer from the lead spot last August.

Jankovic, who holds a narrow points margin over Serena Williams, opens with Austrian Yvonne Meusburger.

Melbourne - Stanislas Wawrinka will bid for his first career win over Roger Federer when he plays his Olympic co-gold medalist for the title at the AAMI Classic on Saturday after defeating Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (1-7), 6-4.

The 16th-ranked Swiss ended a run of five straight victories in their series for the Chilean, the losing 2007 Australian Open finalist to Federer.