Tennis-Australia's Hewitt will do whatever it takes

LIEGE, Belgium, Feb 8 (Reuters) Australia's Lleyton Hewitt will do whatever it takes to help his country overcome Belgium in their Davis Cup tie this weekend, he said today.

The world number 18 faces Kristof Vliegen on Friday in the opening singles of the first round tie and is pencilled in to play on all three days despite missing nearly half of last year through injury.

''I will do whatever it takes. I am happy to play all three days,'' he told reporters.

Hewitt's last match of 2006 was in Australia's Davis Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina in September. He has since recovered from niggling leg injuries and reached the third round of the Australian Open last month.

''I knew when I came here (to Belgium), I would probably be playing every day, so I have prepared for that scenario and to be honest I feel fit enough,'' Hewitt said.

Today's draw also pitted Belgium's top player Olivier Rochus against Chris Guccione in Friday's second rubber and paired his brother Christophe Rochus with Dick Norman against Hewitt and Paul Hanley in Saturday's doubles.

Hewitt will be first on court again on Sunday against Olivier Rochus before Vliegen plays Guccione in the final rubber.

Australia, the second-most successful country in Davis Cup history with 28 titles, are firm favourites to advance past Belgium, who return to the top tier after an absence of three years.

Belgium have never won a rubber in their previous two meetings with Australia - losing 5-0 in Perth in 1991 and 4-0 in Scarborough, England in 1922.

Sunday's match between Hewitt and Olivier Rochus - ranked 34 in the world - is seen by many commentators as the crunch rubber, but Australia captain John Fitzgerald sees Saturday's doubles as the possible watershed of the weekend.

''Usually the first day ends all square, so the doubles becomes very important and is really the key encounter, I feel,'' said Fitzgerald, who led Australia to the title in 2003.

A second round match against either Germany or Croatia awaits the winners.

REUTERS DH PM2016