Conceding he’s one injury away from retirement, Lleyton Hewitt says the fire still burns ahead of his 18th Australian Open and a Davis Cup campaign he fought six years for.

Fresh from winning the John Newcombe Medal as Australia’s top tennis performer this year, 32-year-old Hewitt says the thought of claiming big scalps at grand slams and Davis Cup success are driving him through another tough pre-season.

“The hunger’s absolutely there otherwise you wouldn’t be playing,” Hewitt said on Tuesday.

Australia will play France in the team’s first appearance back in the Davis Cup’s elite World Group since 2007, returning to the country where Hewitt won the 1999 Davis Cup final alongside Mark Philippoussis and the Woodies.

This time around, he’s the elder statesman in a young squad including Bernard Tomic that is expected to contest the February tie.

Hewitt supported 21-year-old teammate Tomic, who has endured a tough year, over recent much-published photos of him shirtless in a Gold Coast nightclub during schoolies week.

“I was number one at 20 so I was under the spotlight, I probably wasn’t out at nightclubs and bars quite as much,” Hewitt said.

“When you’re growing up, we’ve all made mistakes, I’m sure he’d take it back if he had the time over again.

“Bernie does spend long hours on the practice court … it’s just about doing those one per centers all the time and backing it up. If he does that he’s good enough to have a long and successful career.”

Hewitt said he would seek to grow Davis Cup hunger in younger teammates Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis after reacquainting with legends including John Newcombe and Tony Roche at Monday night’s Tennis Australia awards.

“Seeing Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Newk and Rochey and all these great players, it hit home how much Davis Cup means to this country,” Hewitt said.

“When you first come on the tour, you think you’ve got 15-20 years ahead of you, whereas now you’re one injury away from retirement.

“So your motivations, your priorities, your goals all change.”

Hewitt heads to Argentina this week for two exhibition matches against Juan Martin Del Potro, who he defeated twice this year including at the US Open, and will play the Brisbane International and Kooyong Classic in the lead up to the Australian Open.