Robson and Murray will be GB's first Hopman Cup duo in 18 years

World number four Andy Murray will partner Laura Robson to represent Great Britain at the Hopman Cup in January, tournament organisers have confirmed.

Murray and former Wimbledon girls' champion Robson will make their debut as a mixed doubles team when they team up at the event in Perth, Australia.

Murray will use the trip to prepare for the Australian Open later that month.

"It's the first time Andy's prepared in Australia so that's a big statement," said Hopman Cup director Paul McNamee.

"He's never done well at the Australian Open," McNamee told Perth newspaper WA Today.

"He indicated through his management he wanted to do something different this year.

"They noticed Novak Djokovic [in 2008] and Marat Safin [in 2005] used the Perth route to win the Australian Open so they are giving it a shot."

In the last two years Murray has used the ATP tournament in Doha, which he won both times as preparation for the Australian Open.

However, this time around the Scotsman has decided to change his schedule leading up to Melbourne's grand slam tournament which begins on 18 January.

But BBC Sport revealed in September that Murray and Robson were close to being confirmed for the Hopman Cup.

When the 2010 Hopman Cup begins, on 2 January, they will become the competition's first British entrants since 1992, when Jeremy Bates and Jo Durie lost in the first round.

Each match features one men's singles, one women's singles and a doubles.

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Other teams confirmed for the tournament include the United States, whose 18-year-old star Melanie Oudin may face 15-year-old Robson.

John Isner partners Oudin, while Russia are sending Elena Dementieva and Igor Andreev and Spain will be represented by Tommy Robredo and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

The host nation's team comprises Samantha Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt.

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