Tennis-Roddick, Ivanovic lined up for first joint China Open

BEIJING, April 23 (Reuters) - American Andy Roddick is skipping the Olympics but he will be in Beijing the following month to headline the first joint men's and women's China Open, organisers said on Wednesday.

The world number six will be joined by fifth-ranked Spaniard David Ferrer and women's number two Ana Ivanovic for the Sept. 20-28 tournament at the Beijing Tennis Centre.

"I will have a break after U.S. Open to adjust myself for a couple of days, and I might be hungry for China Open at that time" Serb Ivanovic said in a video message at a news conference.

Women's world number five Jelena Jankovic, beaten to the title last year by Agnes Szavay despite leading 7-6 5-1 in the final, will make a third appearance at the tournament.

Both men's and women's champions, Chile's Fernando Gonzalez and Hungarian Szavay, will return to defend their crowns.

From 2009, the China Open will be one of the new "crown jewel" events on the women's tour and an ATP 500 tournament for the men as part of Beijing's plans to secure a sporting legacy from the Games. (Reporting by Liu Zhen; writing by Nick Mulvenney; editing by Martin Petty)