Tennis: Hewitt's Chenai safety fears

SYDNEY - Lleyton Hewitt is awaiting the result of a Tennis Australia (TA) appeal before committing himself to Australia's vital Davis Cup tie against India next month.

Amid fears Hewitt could opt out of the tie, TA confirmed yesterday that it would challenge the International Tennis Federation (ITF) decision to allow Chennai to remain the host venue for the Asia-Oceania Group I playoff despite TA's security concerns.

TA last month requested the tie be moved to a neutral venue in the wake of last November's Mumbai terrorist attacks.

But the ITF announced yesterday the playoff would go ahead as scheduled in Chennai from May 8-10 following "a positive report from the ITF's security consultants".

TA will lodge its appeal today, still hopeful of having the tie moved, as cricket's IPL tournament was shifted from India to South Africa, because the playoff is taking place during the Indian elections, with security services already stretched.

Hoping to advance to a World Group playoff in September, the Australian Davis Cup team is due to face India three days before Chennai votes.

Hewitt's manager, David Drysdale, said yesterday Australia's most successful Davis Cup singles player was currently in limbo in Europe, awaiting the outcome of TA's appeal before making his next move.

"We talked about it yesterday and we're waiting to see what TA's result is, but I don't think he's ready to make any comments," Drysdale said.

"We should hear something in the next 48 hours and I think, like all players, he'll make a decision then - if a decision needs to be made."

Complicating matters for Hewitt is the fact that Australia's cup playoff is scheduled in the middle of the European claycourt season, which seriously compromises his preparations for the French Open starting on May 25.

A two-time quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, Hewitt said after winning his first claycourt title in a decade last week in Houston that he could "do some damage" at the season's second grand slam event.

But, because of the uncertainty surrounding Australia's cup tie, the former world No 1 has yet to even enter any French Open lead-up events.

Drysdale said Hewitt was considering asking for a wildcard entry to the Rome Masters starting next Monday.

- AAP