Melbourne, Dec 1: Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt has been handed a wildcard into next month's Australian Open tennis tournament.
The two-time grand slam winner has a world ranking of No. 188 after several injury-plagued seasons, but tournament director Craig Tiley said Thursday giving the 2005 runner up a wildcard was the easiest decision he has had to make.
Tiley said “Lleyton has had some bad luck with injury recently, which has seen his ranking drop, but he has proved time and time again he can never be discounted, particularly in a big match.”
The decision means Hewitt will not have to contest next week's Australian Open playoff tournament in Melbourne where wildcard entries will go to the winning man and woman.
