Leyton Hewitt is battling new problems with his right hip, which could require more surgery if the situation does not improve, Melbourne’s Herald Sun reported.
The tabloid said the new development has the Hewitt camp worried but refused to blame the nagging injury for the hammering that the world number 22 took in the fourth round against Roger Federer at the Australian Open Monday.
Hewitt, 28, underwent a surgery on his hip in August 2008 and returned the following January. He won a clay title in April 2009 in Houston as he rose back up the ranks.
The tabloid said that Hewitt hurt his hip again December 31 during training at the Hopman Cup in Perth but remained quiet about it.
The Bahamas-based Australian is due to play in US indoor events next month in San Jose, California, and Memphis, Tennessee, followed by a Davis Cup zonal clash with Taiwan on the first weekend in March in Melbourne.
After losing to Federer for the 15th time in a row, Hewitt kept his comments to a minimum, saying he did “everything right.”
“I prepared exactly the way that I wanted to prepare for the Australian summer, gave 100 per cent every time, again,” he said. “I ran into the best player right at the moment, I would say.”
rounak