Tennis legend Martina Navratilova will play doubles at the Uncle Tobys Hardcourts tournament on the Gold Coast starting on January 2.

The winner of 58 Grand Slam titles, Navratilova will contest the doubles Nathalie Dechy of France who won the singles here at the Royal Pines Resort in 2003.

Uncle Tobys Hardcourts tournament director Liz Smylie said the addition of Navratilova was a further boost for the tournament which only two weeks ago announced 16-year-old Tatiana Golovin of France would also be in the field.

"It will be fantastic to have Martina back in Australia and playing at the Uncle Tobys Hardcourts again," Smylie said.

"Tennis fans have the chance to see one of the legends of the game right here on the Gold Coast.

"Martina's decision to play here just highlights how much the players enjoy competing in conditions so close to what they experience at the Australian Open."

Navratilova's first appearance at the Uncle Tobys Hardcourts was in 2003, during her first trip to Australia in 14 years.

She teamed with then 17-year-old Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova to capture the doubles championship and her 167th doubles title. It was one of five doubles titles she won with Kuznetsova that year.

Since turning pro in 1975, Navratilova's career has yielded 167 singles, which is more than any player male or female, and 174 doubles titles.

She captured one doubles title during the 2004 season in Vienna with American Lisa Raymond.

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