Hewitt set for Games despite hip problem
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
BEIJING, Aug 5 (AFP): Australia's Lleyton Hewitt flew out for the Olympic Games Tuesday despite an ongoing hip problem that has kept him sidelined for the past month, reports said.
The former world number one and double Grand Slam winner left for Beijing "determined" to chase his first Olympic medal, his manager David Drysdale told Australian media.
"The hip is as good as what it can be," David said.
"To be honest, we haven't talked that much about it. But he's determined to play. He missed Athens (because of a scheduling worry) after playing Sydney and he really wants to play this time."
Drysdale added that Hewitt, who has been out of action since his straight-sets Wimbledon loss to Roger Federer, also planned to play the US Open which starts on August 25.
The 27-year-old will have further treatment on his painful left hip before his first match here Sunday or Monday, Drysdale said. Hewitt, currently ranked 28, was a first-round loser in his only Olympic appearance at Sydney 2000.
The former world number one and double Grand Slam winner left for Beijing "determined" to chase his first Olympic medal, his manager David Drysdale told Australian media.
"The hip is as good as what it can be," David said.
"To be honest, we haven't talked that much about it. But he's determined to play. He missed Athens (because of a scheduling worry) after playing Sydney and he really wants to play this time."
Drysdale added that Hewitt, who has been out of action since his straight-sets Wimbledon loss to Roger Federer, also planned to play the US Open which starts on August 25.
The 27-year-old will have further treatment on his painful left hip before his first match here Sunday or Monday, Drysdale said. Hewitt, currently ranked 28, was a first-round loser in his only Olympic appearance at Sydney 2000.