Hewitt health is key to Davis Cup appearance in Argentina

Aug 31, 2006, 3:35 GMT

New York - Lleyton Hewitt was more concerned with the state of his knee tendon injury than his chances of playing for Australia in the Davis Cup semi-final, after advancing into the second round of the US Open Wednesday.

'Right at the moment with everything going on with my body, I'm trying just to focus on getting ready for tomorrow's match,' said the 2001 US Open winner after defeating Spain's Albert Montanes 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.

The Australian team travel to Buenos Aires for a September 22-24 semi-final, amid a hotbed of hatred for Hewitt. The Aussie has had past run-ins on court with various Argentinians, including a bump with Guillermo Coria and a spitting incident with Juan Chela.

Though Tennis Australia have guaranteed their top player's security in the South American lion's den, Hewitt is making no comment about whether he will play.

'I'm not even gonna get in the debate right now.'

Hewitt felt his patella tendon problem several weeks ago in the second round in Toronto, where he quit a match.

'The knee's not 100 percent, no. Obviously today was a good boost. But in Toronto the following day it was useless,' Hewitt said. 'After a tough match - that's what I'm more afraid of right at the moment.'

Australian Davis Cup skipper John Fitzgerald is due to announce his side to face Argentina within days, with Mark Philippoussis confirming that he would be on board if called even after losing in the first round in New York to Rafael Nadal.

'I've been speaking to (Fitzgerald) pretty much close to every day, so, you know, he'll be making the announcement soon,' said Philippoussis. 'I'm healthy, I'm available, and looking forward to it. Whatever happens ...'

Hewitt said that had it not been a Grand Slam, he would not have entered the US Open.

'I tried to rush it a little bit to play the US Open. You only have four chances of playing Grand Slams a year, and I try and do everything possible to be as close to 100 percent as possible,' Hewitt said.

'It gets better and better each day. But until this tournament's done, I don't know how it's gonna pull up.'