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Enlarge Photo Lleyton Hewitt of Australia hits a return to Mikhail Youzhny of Russia during their match... The timing of Australia's Davis Cup tie with Japan so close to this month's French Open was described as 'ridiculous' by former world number one Lleyton Hewitt on Tuesday.The Asia-Oceania second-round tie, which begins on clay in Brisbane on Friday, is sandwiched between traditional Roland Garros warm-up events, the ATP Masters in Rome and Madrid.
Hewitt, who suffered a second-round exit to Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Rome last week as he continued his comeback from hip surgery, is due to be in Madrid the day after the Cup tie concludes.
"There is no doubt it is a nightmare schedule for all of us," 29-year-old Hewitt said in Brisbane on Tuesday.
"It's ridiculous to be playing this week firstly. The ITF (International Tennis Federation) really have got to have a good look at it.
"Because if you are expecting to play two Masters series for the ATP, and then come back and play a Davis Cup tie in between that - it takes a lot of effort."
With the Cup tie winner advancing to the September World Group playoffs, the world number 29 could face a major workout if Australian captain John Fitzgerald decides to deploy the two-time major winner in the doubles as well.
The French Open starts in Paris on May 23.
(Writing by Neil Maidment in London; editing by Miles Evans; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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