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7/7/11 2:53 PM | Johan Lindahl
Lleyton Hewitt will be held back for doubles duty only this weekend in Beijing as Australia unveiled a strategy shift on the eve of its Davis Cup Asian zonal tie with China.
Hewitt will be on the sidelines for opening singles, his place taken on court by untried debutant Marinko Matosevic, a Wimbledon qualifier ranked 141. Hewitt, aged 30, has had trouble recovering from a spring foot operation and has a full schedule of North American hardcourts planned as he tries to improve a No. 174 ranking.
Matosevic and fellow Balkan-Australian Bernard Tomic, the 18-year-old heir-apparent to two-time Grand Slam winner Hewitt, are set for opening-day singles rubbers.
Captain Patrick Rafter said he made the change to give Hewitt some extra injury recovery time. "Lleyton was obviously having problems during Wimbledon with his foot," said Rafter. "He's okay but we want to make sure he's right for the doubles. He's got a big season ahead of him through America as well, the hard court season. We are hoping he keeps his body right for the rest of the year."
Hewitt is due to begin on hardcourts a week from Monday in Atlanta. The winner of the China-Australia tie earns a place in the September World Group playoff.
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