The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Perth

Fiery Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela will head his country's bid to win the Hopman Cup in December here.

Chela, who is mainly remembered in Australia for a spiteful exchange with local star Lleyton Hewitt at the 2005 Australian Open, will team up with the glamorous Gisela Dulko to represent Argentina at the mixed teams event, which starts on December 29 at Burswood Dome.

It will be Dulko's third Hopman Cup appearance, while Chela will be making his debut at the event.

Chela has enjoyed a solid 2007, climbing back to 16th in the world rankings, just one place below his career-high achieved in 2004.

Tournament director Paul McNamee said it was important to have a South American presence in the event.

"The Hyundai Hopman Cup is the ITF International Mixed Teams Championship so it is a goal to have all the continents represented," he said.

"So few events exist where men and women can play side by side.

"South America has a number of great male players and a fantastic tennis tradition but the women are not so common-

Gisela Dulko is the only South American woman in the top 50.

"Juan is having a fantastic year and hasn't been to Perth before so he gives us the opportunity to showcase another top-20 player."

Dulko has won just one of her six singles matches in Perth, but she teamed up with Guillermo Coria to reach the 2005 final, where they were beaten by the Slovakian pairing of Daniela Hantuchova and Dominik Hrbaty.

The 22-year-old Dulko is ranked 37 in the world.