Comeback man Hewitt hoping for a title

SYDNEY: Two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt plans to return to the ATP tour after hip surgery at January’s Sydney International, a tuneup for the Australian Open.

Hewitt, a former top-ranked player, said his recovery is “going well” and that he’ll try for his fifth title in Sydney ahead of the year’s first tennis major, which starts on January 19 at Melbourne Park.

“Some good hard matches in Sydney will certainly help me in my preparation for the 2009 Australian Open,’’ Hewitt said in a statement released by Sydney International organizers.

The 27-year-old, whose best performance in 12 appearances at his home Grand Slam was runner-up in 2005, had an operation in August to fix the hip problem that restricted him to 11 tournaments this season.

After starting the year ranked 21, Hewitt compiled a 20-11 record to fall to his current
ranking of 67, his lowest since March 1999. Hewitt said his recuperation from an operation after the Beijing Olympics was progressing well.

“Sydney has always been a happy hunting ground for me. Some good hard matches in Sydney will certainly help me in my preparation for the 2009 Australian Open,” he said.
My recovery is going well and I am really looking forward to the Australian summer.

It is an exciting time for me.I am already feeling refreshed, reinvigorated and excited
about the challenge ahead,” he added.