• Australian Open

Hewitt out for four months after hip surgery

ESPN staff
January 30, 2010
Lleyton Hewitt had surgery on his left hip in 2008 © Getty Images
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Lleyton Hewitt has set his sights on returning in time for the French Open in May after being forced to undergo surgery for a hip injury.

The Australian No. 1, who was knocked out of his home Grand Slam in the fourth round by world No.1 Roger Federer, had treatment on his right hip on Thursday after picking up the injury at the Hopman Cup earlier in the year.

"It's been causing a few problems since the Hopman Cup at the start of the year," he said. "I did one movement at the Hopman Cup in practice the day before my first match, and I felt something straightaway. I knew it wasn't that good.

"Right at that time I wasn't 100 per cent sure whether I was going to be able to play any of the Australian summer. If I waited any longer to have anything done, it would have been very similar to 2008 where I sort of prolonged it because I didn't exactly know what was going on and ended up missing the U.S. Open because of it."

And the former No.1 admits he learnt from his mistakes after playing through a similar injury and has set his sights on returning in time for the clay court season, and insists he has entertained no thoughts of retirement.

"For me having it done right now, I'll be back, ready for the French Open," he said. "Retirement never went through my mind. I've worked too hard to come back."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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