No one has done more for the Australian Davis Cup cause down through the years than Lleyton Hewitt.
And the passion shows no sign of dimming, because no-one is looking forward more to the Asia-Oceania qualifying tie against China starting on Friday more than Lleyton Hewitt.
The baseline warrior holds the record for most Davis Cup victories by an Australian and this weekend he draws level with Todd Woodbridge for most ties played (32).
Hewitt, who turns 31 later this month, was the key member of Australia’s most recent Cup-winning team in 2003.
He was in the last Australian team to play in the World Group, which bowed out in a tight first-round tie to Belgium in 2007.
And he lost the deciding match of last year’s World Group playoff to Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
But unlike many other top-liners such as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal – who are giving Davis Cup duty a miss this weekend – there was never any doubt that Hewitt would yet again put his country first.
“Getting back into the World Group would mean a lot,” Hewitt said on Thursday ahead of the encounter at the Geelong Lawn Tennis Club.
“It’s the whole team’s goal at the moment – it’s Pat Rafter’s goal as captain and Rochey’s (Tony Roche) goal as the coach.
“I’d love to give them the opportunity to get back into the World Group, but we can’t look too far down the line.
“Obviously it was disappointing to lose to Switzerland in September.
“That’s still in the back of my mind, so this tie couldn’t come around quickly enough for me.”
Rafter joked on Thursday during the draw at the Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club that Hewitt was already effectively captaining a team which also includes teen tyro Bernard Tomic, Chris Guccione and Matthew Ebden.
“It’s about doing all the right things, the small one percenters for the team,” said Hewitt.
“I learnt from the Woodies and Pat, Newk (John Newcombe) and Rochey leading the team.
“It’s a nice position for me to be in, being the elder statesman out there, but I’ve still got to go out there and try and get the win on the board.”
Hewitt will play China’s top-ranked player Zhang Ze (world No.278) in the opening singles match on Friday, while Tomic has been pitted against Wu Di (No.502).
Rafter had no second thoughts about also selecting Hewitt to play doubles on Saturday with Chris Guccione against Zhang and Li Zhe after the veteran successfully played singles and doubles on alternate days throughout the first week of last month’s Australian Open.
Both Rafter and opposing captain Shao Xuan Zeng admit Australia are favoured by the tie taking place on grass, a surface unfamiliar to players from the Asian nation.
“We wanted it on grass and I’m guessing that the Chinese have not played a lot on grass – that’s what we’re banking on,” said Rafter.
“It also suits our boys.
“Lleyton is obviously a great grasscourter and Bernard had a great Wimbledon.
“We think it’s ideal for us.”
Australia beat China 3-1 in the most recent Cup tie between the two nations last year on an indoor hardcourt in Beijing.