The simmering feud between Team Lleyton Hewitt and former Australian Open director Paul McNamee has been put aside with Australia's No.1 and his female counterpart Casey Dellacqua today confirmed as the host country's latest Hopman Cup team.
Despite their long-held differences - sparked by Hewitt's well-known dislike of the Melbourne Park surface during McNamee's time in charge - Hopman Cup director McNamee confirmed the former world No.1 as a competitor in the mixed doubles event for the first time in five years.
And with Perth-born Dellacqua certain to receive a rapturous reception in her first appearance at the home-town event, McNamee was determined to ensure Hewitt also got a smooth passage back to the event the new Melbourne Demons chief executive still holds close to his heart.
"It actually worked out fine, and obviously Lleyton still has a burning ambition to win the Australian Open and he feels he wants to try this preparation again," McNamee said.
"I have always said if there was a so-called feud, it was one-way because I have always admired what he brought to the court.
"Obviously his entourage had different views about the Australian Open and the court, and that was well documented.
"But it was never personal between Lleyton and me, and that is the important point."
In an statement, Hewitt said representing Australia again was a big incentive.
"It is always a major thrill for me to represent my country and I look forward to returning to Perth to do so in Hopman Cup 2009," Hewitt said.
"Casey and I shall be giving it all we can to win the Cup for Australia for the first time since 1999, so we look forward to the support of the great Western Australian fans in getting behind us."
The differences between Hewitt's camp and McNamee reached a head during the Australian Opens in 2005 and 2006, with the tournament director's backing of the Rebound Ace surface infuriating the Wimbledon winner and his entourage.
But McNamee was keen to point out the Hopman Cup would be played under the exact conditions as Melbourne Park, and seemed to have helped some recent winners,
"We have the same conditions as the Australian Open ... we just follow suit, we are a very very important stepping stone," McNamee said.
"It would not go unnoticed that the only two players in the last five years other than Federer who have won the Australian Open have been Marat Safin and Novak Djokovic and they both came from here to the tournament."
Twenty-three-year-old Dellacqua, who was a toddler when the first Hopman Cup was held, will be a massive local boost to the tournament, which is shifting away from its traditional straddling of New Years's Eve.
With the 2009 event starting on January 3, Dellacqua's much improved profile following her giantkilling run to the fourth round of last year's Australian Open, including defeats of Patty Schnyder and Amelie Mauresmo, ensured an invitation she had longed for.
"As long as I've been playing tennis I've dreamt of one day playing in the Hopman Cup," she said.
"It's the only major tournament in Perth and it will be an absolute thrill to play in front of my family and friends for Australia."
Currently ranked 52nd in the world, McNamee said Dellacqua's presence was deserved after her breakthrough year.
"She is about the same age as the tournament, and she has grown up with this tournament, and she absolutes deserves her position," McNamee said.
