Lleyton Hewitt says ready to take on his Oz Open rivals

Australian tennis star Lleyton Hewitt says he is in his best physical shape in years and is ready to take on his opponents in this year’s Australian Open.

The former world No.1 has overcome hip, foot and ankle problems after surgery in August 2008 and said he was as strong as 2005 when he made the final of the Australian Open.

"I feel really good. I've been doing the hard yards, on and off the practice court," Fox Sports quoted Hewitt, 28, as saying.

"I've got a good team behind me. I feel like we've done everything right. It's just a matter now of going out there. I've been waiting the last three months to get out on court and play these tournaments and get into it," he added.
 
While he aims to peak at the Australian Open, Hewitt said he was ready to play right now.

"Melbourne in a couple of weeks' time is the big one and that's where you want to be peaking," he said.