Injury and coach setback fail to dampen Hewitt hopes

MELBOURNE, Jan 13 (Reuters) Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt feels he has a chance of winning the Australian Open despite a calf injury which a week ago threatened to rule him out of his home grand slam.

The 19th seed feared his prospects of playing at Melbourne Park were doomed when he suffered a 1.5 centimetre calf tear during his defeat against Russia's Igor Kunitsyn in Adelaide last week.

But Hewitt, whose best performance in the Australian Open was a runners-up spot to Marat Safin in 2005, said he had recovered well after intensive sessions of treatment.

''It felt like a gun was going off in my calf,'' the 25-year-old told reporters today.

''It felt like cramps, never had anything before like that.

Normally it would take two weeks or so. I've done everything possible physio and treatment-wise to get me as close as possible to 100 percent.

''I think, fingers crossed, it will hold up okay. It would have to be a lot more than that to make me not play the Australian Open.'' The former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion has had a turbulent build-up to his Melbourne campaign with the injury and the resignation of his coach Roger Rasheed last week.

Hewitt refused to comment on reports of an increasingly acrimonious divorce from his coach of over three years, but admitted the saga had had an unsettling effect.

''I'm not hiding, it's not the best situation to be coming into a grand slam. I think I've dealt with it all now, I'm focusing on what I need to do for the tournament.'' Former player Scott Draper stepped in at the last minute to help Hewitt through his attempt to win a third grand slam title, and he remains upbeat about his chances despite the setbacks.

''If I get through the first week and put some pressure on the (big) name players in the second week, I've got a chance that's for sure.

''I feel as though I've prepared as well as possible, I did a lot of stuff through November and December to get ready for the Australian Open.'' Hewitt has been drawn against a qualifier in the opening round and could play Chilean 10th seed Fernando Gonzalez in the third round. The Australian Open starts on Monday.

REUTERS YA RAI1002