Hewitt is playing the Hopman Cup for the fifth time (credit: Jayegirl99)
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Lleyton Hewitt is raring to go as the Hyundai Hopman Cup kicks off in Perth this weekend.
Hewitt is a seasoned competitor at the Hopman Cup and he will be making his fifth appearance, partnering fellow veteran Alicia Molik for the fourth time. However Adelaide's favourite son has never managed to lift the cup for Australia, despite reaching the final twice. The American team of Serena Williams and James Blake proved too tough in 2003 and then a year later, an injury to Molik meant they had to withdraw.
The 2011 event boasts one of the strongest fields ever and in the group stages Hewitt will face Novak Djokovic, Ruben Bemelmans and the fast improving Andrey Golubev. As ever, he is relishing the challenge.
"All these guys will be tough, I have had close matches with them in the past. Novak will be a good test to see where I am at after not having played competitively for four months, as he is one of the world’s very best," Hewitt said.
“I enjoy the Hopman Cup and playing in Perth. It’s a great way to prepare for the Australian Open. This is my third year in a row here and I have been here a couple of times before that, it’s a perfect way to start the year. I can't wait to get out there, have the Western Australian fans behind me, play for my country and give it my all. It’s what I enjoy doing !”
