Hewitt pleads for cup break
Hewitt pleads for cup break
Leo Schlink 03feb04
LLEYTON Hewitt has sounded the first warning over Australia's Davis Cup
defence.
Hewitt said the break between last year's final triumph over Spain and
this week's clash with Sweden was too short.
Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge will do
battle with Mats Wilander's underdog Swedes on Rebound Ace in Adelaide
from Friday.
But Hewitt yesterday renewed his plea for better scheduling.
He said the two finalists -- in this case Australia and Spain -- should
be given a first-round bye in the following year's competition.
"Australians understand tennis and Davis Cup as much as anyone, and most
can't understand why we won the trophy for our country in December and
have to go and defend it straight away," Hewitt said.
"It doesn't make any sense. The two finalists should receive a first-round
bye, or maybe they should be looking at making the cup a two-year event,
which would make it even more special."
Hewitt, beaten in the fourth round of the Open by eventual champion Roger
Federer, said Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero's groin, back and leg problems
at Melbourne Park were a result of a gruelling schedule.
"Juan Carlos had a really demanding end to last year, and next week he
would have had to go to the Czech Republic to play for Spain," Hewitt said.
"It's no wonder there are so many players playing with niggles.
"There has to be a greater off-season for all of us to spend more time
getting our bodies right and preparing for the new year."
Ferrero has withdrawn from Spain's tie, while Frenchman Sebastien
Grosjean is out of Guy Forget's team to face Croatia.
Injury has forced Thomas Johansson and Magnus Norman out of the Swedish
team seeking to avenge its 5-0 quarter-final hammering by Australia in
Malmo last year.
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