Hewitt aiming for Sydney return
Posted
Australia's number one men's tennis player Lleyton Hewitt will begin his return to the ATP tour, by playing in January's Sydney International.
The former world number one missed the US Open and Australia's Davis Cup tie in Chile to have the arthroscopic hip surgery in August and he is using the Sydney event as his major tournament lead-in to the Australian Open from January 19-February 1.
Two-time grand slam champion Hewitt, 27, whose ATP ranking has slipped to 67, won the Sydney title in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005.
Hewitt says he is excited about playing the Australian Open lead-up event, which is also expected to attract world number one Rafael Nadal.
"My recovery is going well and I am really looking forward to the Australian summer," Hewitt said in a statement.
"I am already feeling refreshed, reinvigorated and excited about the challenge ahead.
"Sydney is a happy hunting ground for me. I have won here four times and would love to make it five. Some good hard matches in Sydney will certainly help me in my preparation for the 2009 Australian Open."
The Sydney International takes place from January 11 to 17.
