Lleyton Hewitt has revealed his burning desire to drag Australia back into the Davis Cup World Group as the chief motivator behind his surprise early comeback from foot surgery.
Always inspired by the challenge of grand slams, Hewitt says he took a wildcard into next week’s French Open as much out of desperation to be primed for Australia’s World Group playoff with Germany on clay in September.
The 31-year-old former world No.1 is already the most successful singles player in Australian Davis Cup history, boasting 38 wins since debuting in 1999.
He has also won two Davis Cup trophies from four finals and is determined to help his 28-times champion country climb back into the elite 16-nation World Group for the first time since 2007.
Hence why Team Hewitt worked feverishly to return a fortnight earlier than first hoped after having a plate and screws inserted in his troublesome left big toe in February.
“We definitely weren’t focusing on the French Open,” Hewitt said after accepting Tennis Australia’s wildcard to the claycourt major starting on Sunday week.
“It was more trying to get preparation for Wimbledon and probably starting off in Queen’s a couple of weeks before Wimbledon and obviously the Olympics after Wimbledon.
“So we were focusing on the grasscourt season.
“But I probably pushed a little bit harder once I knew that the next Davis Cup tie was most likely going to be on clay in Germany and I probably pushed the boundaries a little bit more to try to get back for the French Open, especially after I missed it last year.”
Now that he is heading to Paris, Hewitt’s appetite for success is as strong as ever.
“Its always great to get ready for grand slams and that’s what I pride myself on – trying to play your best tennis at the big tournaments and obviously the French Open is one of the big majors,” he said.
“I’ve made quarter-finals there in the past. This year’s going to be tough going in as a wildcard and possibly drawing anyone in the first round.
“But the rehab’s been going really well. I’ve done absolutely everything in my control to get as close to 100 per cent and I’m looking forward to it.”
Hewitt has reached at least the last 32 on 10 straight visits to Roland Garros but has run into six-times champion Rafael Nadal in four of his past five campaigns.
“It would be nice not to get him in the first round, get a couple of matches under my belt and then I’d enjoy playing him again,” Hewitt said.
“But he’s obviously the form guy in Roland Garros. He’s the greatest claycourter player ever to play.”