ANDRE AGASSI said yesterday that he has fully recovered from a nagging chest muscle injury and is ready to defend his Australian Open title next week.

The flamboyant American arrived in Melbourne to complete his preparations for the year's first Grand Slam tournament and was confident about his prospects. "It's nice to be healthy again, feeling ready, and to start off here is a good feeling for me," he said.

"I had never played here until last year and it's nice to know that when I've been away from the game, I can come back to a place where I'm treated so well."

Agassi will play in the eight-man Colonial Classic event from today until Saturday at nearby Kooyong to round off his buildup to the Australian Open. "Needless to say, my energy level is high," he said.