Richard lost the Sydney final to Marcos Baghdatis 4-6 6-7(2).
A poor service game at the start cost him the first set. After a rain break at the start of the second, Richard seemed on his way back into the match breaking at 2-1, but a great game from Marcos at 5-4 levelled things. Two doubles fautes in the tiebreak sealed Richard's fate.
His first round opponent at the Australian Open is Michail Youzhny.