Hewitt to rest after Davis Cup heroics

U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt is taking a week off after leading Australia to the Davis Cup final at the weekend with victory over Sweden, Tennis Australia said on Tuesday. During his rest week Hewitt, the son of a former Australian Rules Football player, will indulge his first passion and attend the AFL Grand Final on Saturday between the Brisbane Lions and Essendon.

He will use the Japan Open in Tokyo to work his way back into form for the Masters Series events in Stuttgart (October 15) and Paris (October 29) before heading back to Sydney for the Tennis Masters Cup.

Hewitt's team mate Pat Rafter will reluctantly hop on a plane to Europe for the Stockholm Open on October 22 and the Paris Masters but has said if the international climate worsened, he might stay put.

Australia's doubles pair Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs will team up for the doubles in Tokyo.

Australia will face France in November's Davis Cup showdown -- a re-run of the 1999 final which Australia won in France.