New York, Aug 23: Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt dropped a bombshell on the eve of the US Open, hinting that he could easily give away tennis for a career in Aussie Rules football. The remarks from the player who finished No. 1 for the past two seasons came in an interview with US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe, also a television commentator.
Hewitt's form has been rough this season, with only two titles - the last in March - and a ranking which has sunk to sixth in the world.
He has been beaten in the first and second rounds of his last two tournaments and goes into the open, which he won in 2001, on poor form. His first-round match in New York will be a test against unknown Romanian victor Hanescu, a 1.98-metre big server with little to lose.
''He really surprised me by saying he would love to play Australian Rules football and not necessarily love to be a tennis player for the next eight years,'' McEnroe told Australian media in articles published today.
Hewitt's last match was a loss to Belgian Xavier Malisse in the first round at the Cincinnati Masters a week ago. The 22-year-old has maintained a low profile since, finally speaking on his chances at the last grand slam of the season. Hewitt's football dream would likely come at his hometown Adelaide Crows, a team where he is the No. 1 season ticket holder.
His father, Glenn, played the game at the professional level in the 1970s, and Hewitt participated in a charity match at home a year ago.
Some of Hewitt's lack of enthusiasm for tennis may stem from his lawsuit currently in progress against the ATP over a fine in 2002 for missing a television interview with McEnroe's network. Bureau Report