It doesn’t matter that Lleyton Hewitt has not received a seeding for next week’s US Open. He’s not going to be there at all.
The former titleholder has withdrawn from the year’s last Grand Slam championship and has quit playing for the rest of the year.
On returning to Australia from the Olympics where he lost to Rafael Nadal in the second round, Hewitt underwent arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome hip.
He has been avoiding the surgery but the hip has not responded to any other treatment.
"Surgery was always the last resort, but unfortunately that's what it came down to," Hewitt said.
"I am also shattered that I can't lead the Australian Davis Cup team in Chile in our bid to rejoin the world group, and hope that the boys can still come through with a great win."
He will also miss Australia’s relegation tie against Chile in the Davis Cup; that is to be played in Chile in late September. It was always going to be a horrendously tough tie and with Hewitt out it will be even harder.
A loss will leave Australia wallowing in the zonal competition in 2009.
"I am looking forward to playing again in January in my home country, and using that as a springboard to compete at my best again on the world stage for at least a couple of more years," the 27-year-old South Australian said.
Hewitt said he will undergo rehabilitation the rest of the year in an effort to be ready for the Australian season in January. He suggested that he wants to play for only a couple more years. His second child is due in December.
